Snāp1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. SNAPPED (snăpt); p. pr. & vb. n. SNAPPING.] [L. Ger. & D. snappen, N. H. Ger. schnappen, Dan. snappe, Sw. snappa, Icel. snapa.]
- To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle. “Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks.” Prior.
- To strike with a sharp sound.
- To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth.
He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last. South.
- To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words. Granville.
- To crack; as, to snap a whip.
McMorlan snapped his fingers repeatedly. W. Scott. To snap off. (a.) To break suddenly. (b.) To bite off suddenly.—To snap one up, to snap one up short, to treat with sharp words; to interrupt suddenly or snappishly.