Snap vs. Break

Snap vs. Break — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Snap and Break

Snapnoun

A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound.

Breakverb

To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.

If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car.

Snapnoun

A sudden break.

Breakverb

To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.

His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.She broke her neck.He slipped on the ice and broke his leg.

Snapnoun

An attempt to seize, bite, attack, or grab.

Breakverb

(transitive) To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.

Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers.
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Snapnoun

The act of making a snapping sound by pressing the thumb and an opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm.

Breakverb

(transitive) To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.

Her child's death broke Angela.Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war.The interrogator hoped to break her to get her testimony against her accomplices.You have to break an elephant before you can use it as an animal of burden.

Snapnoun

A fastening device that makes a snapping sound when used.

Breakverb

(intransitive) To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief.

My heart is breaking.

Snapnoun

(informal) A photograph; a snapshot.

We took a few snaps of the old church before moving on.

Breakverb

(transitive) To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate.

I've got to break this habit I have of biting my nails.to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journeyI had won four games in a row, but now you've broken my streak of luck.
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Snapnoun

The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension.

Breakverb

(transitive) To ruin financially.

The recession broke some small businesses.

Snapnoun

A thin circular cookie or similar baked good.

a ginger snap

Breakverb

(transitive) To violate, to not adhere to.

When you go to Vancouver, promise me you won't break the law.He broke his vows by cheating on his wife.break one's wordTime travel would break the laws of physics.

Snapnoun

A brief, sudden period of a certain weather; used primarily in the phrase cold snap.

Breakverb

To pass the most dangerous part of the illness; to go down, in terms of temperature.

Susan's fever broke at about 3 AM, and the doctor said the worst was over.

Snapnoun

A very short period of time (figuratively, the time taken to snap one's fingers), or a task that can be accomplished in such a period.

It'll be a snap to get that finished.I can fix most vacuum cleaners in a snap.

Breakverb

To end.

The forecast says the hot weather will break by midweek.

Snapnoun

A snap bean such as Phaseolus vulgaris.

Breakverb

To begin; to end.

We ran to find shelter before the storm broke.Around midday the storm broke, and the afternoon was calm and sunny.

Snapnoun

(American football) The passing of a football from the center to a back that begins play, a hike.

Breakverb

To arrive.

Morning has broken.The day broke crisp and clear.

Snapnoun

A rivet: a scrapbooking embellishment.

Breakverb

To render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage.

Changing the rules to let white have three extra queens would break chess.I broke the RPG by training every member of my party to cast fireballs as well as use swords.

Snapnoun

A small meal, a snack; lunch.

Breakverb

To stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether.

On the hottest day of the year the refrigerator broke.Did you two break the trolley by racing with it?

Snapnoun

(uncountable) A card game, primarily for children, in which players cry "snap" to claim pairs of matching cards as they are turned up.

Breakverb

To cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly; to cause a regression.

Adding 64-bit support broke backward compatibility with earlier versions.

Snapnoun

(obsolete) A greedy fellow.

Breakverb

(transitive) To cause (a barrier) to no longer bar.

break a seal

Snapnoun

That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap.

Breakverb

(specifically) To cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible.

Snapnoun

briskness; vigour; energy; decision

Breakverb

(specifically) To open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination, or the like.

Snapnoun

Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. used primarily in the phrase soft snap.

Breakverb

(transitive) To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce.

The cavalry were not able to break the British squares.

Snapnoun

(slang) Something that is easy or effortless.

Breakverb

To collapse into surf, after arriving in shallow water.

Snapnoun

A snapper, or snap beetle.

Breakverb

(intransitive) To burst forth; to make its way; to come into view.

Snapnoun

jounce (the fourth derivative of the position vector with respect to time), followed by crackle and pop

Breakverb

(intransitive) To interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily.

Let's break for lunch.

Snapnoun

A quick offhand shot with a firearm; a snap shot.

Breakverb

(transitive) To interrupt (a fall) by inserting something so that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath.

He survived the jump out the window because the bushes below broke his fall.

Snapnoun

(colloquial) Something of no value.

not worth a snap

Breakverb

To disclose or make known an item of news, etc.

The newsman wanted to break a big story, something that would make him famous.I don't know how to break this to you, but your cat is not coming back.In the latest breaking news...When news of their divorce broke, ...

Snapnoun

(internet) A visual message sent through the Snapchat application.

Breakverb

To become audible suddenly.

Snapnoun

(uncountable) A crisp or pithy quality; epigrammatic point or force.

Breakverb

(transitive) To change a steady state abruptly.

His coughing broke the silence.His turning on the lights broke the enchantment.With the mood broken, what we had been doing seemed pretty silly.

Snapnoun

A tool used by riveters.

Breakverb

To suddenly become.

Things began breaking bad for him when his parents died.The arrest was standard, when suddenly the suspect broke ugly.

Snapnoun

A tool used by glass-moulders.

Breakverb

(intransitive) Of a male voice, to become deeper at puberty.

Snapnoun

A brief theatrical engagement.

Breakverb

(intransitive) Of a voice, to alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men generally to go up, in women sometimes to go down; to crack.

His voice breaks when he gets emotional.

Snapnoun

An easy and profitable place or task; a sinecure.

Breakverb

(transitive) To surpass or do better than (a specific number), to do better than (a record), setting a new record.

He broke the men's 100-meter record.I can't believe she broke 3 under par!The policeman broke sixty on a residential street in his hurry to catch the thief.

Snapnoun

A cheat or sharper.

Breakverb

:

Snapverb

To fracture or break apart suddenly.

He snapped his stick in anger.If you bend it too much, it will snap.

Breakverb

To win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver.

He needs to break serve to win the match.

Snapverb

(intransitive) To give forth or produce a sharp cracking noise; to crack.

Blazing firewood snaps.

Breakverb

To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.

Is it your or my turn to break?

Snapverb

(intransitive) To attempt to seize with the teeth or bite.

A dog snaps at a passenger. A fish snaps at the bait.

Breakverb

To remove one of the two men on (a point).

Snapverb

(intransitive) To attempt to seize with eagerness.

She snapped at the chance to appear on television.

Breakverb

To demote, to reduce the military rank of.

Snapverb

(intransitive) To speak abruptly or sharply.

He snapped at me for the slightest mistake.

Breakverb

(transitive) To end (a connection), to disconnect.

The referee ordered the boxers to break the clinch.The referee broke the boxers' clinch.I couldn't hear a thing he was saying, so I broke the connection and called him back.

Snapverb

(intransitive) To give way abruptly and loudly.

Breakverb

To demulsify.

Snapverb

(intransitive) To suffer a mental breakdown, usually while under tension.

She should take a break before she snaps.

Breakverb

To counter-attack

Snapverb

(intransitive) To flash or appear to flash as with light.

Breakverb

To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.

Snapverb

(intransitive) To fit or fasten together with a snapping sound.

Breakverb

(intransitive) To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.

Snapverb

To jump to a fixed position relative to another element.

The floating toolbar will snap to the edge of the screen when dragged towards it.

Breakverb

To fail in business; to become bankrupt.

Snapverb

(transitive) To snatch with or as if with the teeth.

Breakverb

(transitive) To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.

to break flax

Snapverb

(transitive) To pull apart with a snapping sound; to pop loose.

Breakverb

(transitive) To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.

Snapverb

(transitive) To say abruptly or sharply.

Breakverb

(intransitive) To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait.

to break into a run or gallop

Snapverb

To speak to abruptly or sharply; to treat snappishly; usually with up.

Breakverb

To fall out; to terminate friendship.

Snapverb

(transitive) To cause something to emit a snapping sound.

to snap a fastenerto snap a whip

Breaknoun

An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.

The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.

Snapverb

(transitive) To close something using a snap as a fastener.

Breaknoun

A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.

The sun came out in a break in the clouds.He waited minutes for a break in the traffic to cross the highway.

Snapverb

(transitive) A video of a person snapping their fingers.Alternative snapping techniqueTo snap one's fingers: to make a snapping sound, often by pressing the thumb and an opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm; alternatively, by bringing the index finger quickly down onto the middle finger and thumb.

Breaknoun

A rest or pause, usually from work.

Let’s take a five-minute break.

Snapverb

(transitive) To cause to move suddenly and smartly.

Breaknoun

A short holiday.

a weekend break on the Isle of Wight

Snapverb

(transitive) To take a photograph; to release a camera's shutter (which may make a snapping sound).

He snapped a picture of me with my mouth open and my eyes closed.

Breaknoun

A temporary split with a romantic partner.

I think we need a break.

Snapverb

To put the ball in play by passing it from the center to a back; to hike the ball.

He can snap the ball to a back twenty yards behind him.

Breaknoun

An interval or intermission between two parts of a performance, for example a theatre show, broadcast, or sports game.

Snapverb

To misfire.

The gun snapped.

Breaknoun

A significant change in circumstance, attitude, perception, or focus of attention.

big breaklucky break, bad break

Snapverb

To catch out sharply (a batsman who has just snicked a bowled ball).

Breaknoun

The beginning (of the morning).

at the break of day

Snapinterjection

The winning cry at a game of snap.

Breaknoun

An act of escaping.

make a break for it, for the doorIt was a clean break.prison break

Snapinterjection

(British) By extension from the card game, "I've got one the same." or similar

Snap! We've both got pink buckets and spades.

Breaknoun

The separation between lines or paragraphs of a written text.

Snapinterjection

(British) Ritual utterance of agreement (after the cry in the card game snap).

Breaknoun

A change, particularly the end of a spell of persistent good or bad weather.

Snapinterjection

(North America) Used in place of expletive to express surprise, usually in response to a negative statement or news; often used facetiously.

"I just ran over your phone with my car." "Oh, snap!"

Breaknoun

:

Snapinterjection

Ritual utterance used after something is said by two people at exactly the same time.

"Wasn't that John?" "Wasn't that John?" "Snap!"

Breaknoun

(tennis) A game won by the receiving player(s).

Snapadjective

(informal) Done, performed, made, etc. quickly and without deliberation.

a snap judgment or decision; a snap political convention

Breaknoun

The first shot in a game of billiards

Snapnoun

the act of catching an object with the hands;

Mays made the catch with his back to the platehe made a grab for the ball before it landedMartin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced awaythe infielder's snap and throw was a single motion

Breaknoun

(snooker) The number of points scored by one player in one visit to the table

Snapnoun

a spell of cold weather;

a cold snap in the middle of May

Breaknoun

(soccer) The counter-attack

Snapnoun

tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections

Breaknoun

(surfing) A place where waves break (that is, where waves pitch or spill forward creating white water).

The final break in the Greenmount area is Kirra Point.

Snapnoun

a crisp round cookie flavored with ginger

Breaknoun

(dated) A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.

Snapnoun

the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand;

servants appeared at the snap of his fingers

Breaknoun

(equitation) A sharp bit or snaffle.

Snapnoun

a sudden sharp noise;

the crack of a whiphe heard the cracking of the icehe can hear the snap of a twig

Breaknoun

(music) A short section of music, often between verses, in which some performers stop while others continue.

The fiddle break was amazing; it was a pity the singer came back in on the wrong note.

Snapnoun

a sudden breaking

Breaknoun

(music) The point in the musical scale at which a woodwind instrument is designed to overblow, that is, to move from its lower to its upper register.

Crossing the break smoothly is one of the first lessons the young clarinettist needs to master.

Snapnoun

the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed;

the waistband had lost its snap

Breaknoun

(music) A section of extended repetition of the percussion break to a song, created by a hip-hop DJ as rhythmic dance music.

Snapnoun

an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera;

my snapshots haven't been developed yethe tried to get unposed shots of his friends

Breaknoun

some abrupt occurrence that interrupts;

the telephone is an annoying interruptionthere was a break in the action when a player was hurt

Snapnoun

a fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound;

children can manage snaps better than buttons

Breaknoun

an unexpected piece of good luck;

he finally got his big break

Snapnoun

any undertaking that is easy to do;

marketing this product will be no picnic

Breaknoun

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;

they built it right over a geological fault

Snapnoun

the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand;

he gave his fingers a snap

Breaknoun

a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions);

they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Snapnoun

(American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back;

the quarterback fumbled the snap

Breaknoun

a pause from doing something (as work);

we took a 10-minute breakhe took time out to recuperate

Snapverb

utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone;

The sales clerky snapped a reply at the angry customerThe guard snarled at us

Breaknoun

the act of breaking something;

the breakage was unavoidable

Snapverb

separate or cause to separate abruptly;

The rope snappedtear the paper

Breaknoun

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

Snapverb

break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension;

The rope snapped

Breaknoun

breaking of hard tissue such as bone;

it was a nasty fracturethe break seems to have been caused by a fall

Snapverb

move or strike with a noise;

he clicked on the lighthis arm was snapped forward

Breaknoun

the occurrence of breaking;

the break in the dam threatened the valley

Snapverb

snap close with a sound;

The lock snapped shut

Breaknoun

the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool

Snapverb

make a sharp sound;

his fingers snapped

Breaknoun

(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving;

he was up two breaks in the second set

Snapverb

move with a snapping sound;

bullets snapped past us

Breaknoun

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity;

it was presented without commercial breaks

Snapverb

to grasp hastily or eagerly;

Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone

Breaknoun

a sudden dash;

he made a break for the open door

Snapverb

put in play with a snap;

snap a football

Breaknoun

any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare;

the break in the eighth frame cost him the match

Snapverb

cause to make a snapping sound;

snap your fingers

Breaknoun

an escape from jail;

the breakout was carefully planned

Snapverb

lose control of one's emotions;

When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completelyWhen her baby died, she snapped

Breakverb

terminate;

She interrupted her pregnancybreak a lucky streakbreak the cycle of poverty

Snapverb

record on photographic film;

I photographed the scene of the accidentShe snapped a picture of the President

Breakverb

become separated into pieces or fragments;

The figurine brokeThe freshly baked loaf fell apart

Breakverb

destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments;

He broke the glass plateShe broke the match

Breakverb

render inoperable or ineffective;

You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!

Breakverb

ruin completely;

He busted my radio!

Breakverb

act in disregard of laws and rules;

offend all laws of humanityviolate the basic laws or human civilizationbreak a law

Breakverb

move away or escape suddenly;

The horses broke from the stableThree inmates broke jailNobody can break out--this prison is high security

Breakverb

scatter or part;

The clouds broke after the heavy downpour

Breakverb

force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up;

break into tearserupt in anger

Breakverb

prevent completion;

stop the projectbreak off the negociations

Breakverb

enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act;

Someone broke in while I was on vacationThey broke into my car and stole my radio!

Breakverb

make submissive, obedient, or useful;

The horse was tough to breakI broke in the new intern

Breakverb

fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns;

This sentence violates the rules of syntax

Breakverb

surpass in excellence;

She bettered her own recordbreak a record

Breakverb

make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret;

The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had soldThe actress won't reveal how old she isbring out the truthhe broke the news to her

Breakverb

come into being;

light broke over the horizonVoices broke in the air

Breakverb

stop operating or functioning;

The engine finally wentThe car died on the roadThe bus we travelled in broke down on the way to townThe coffee maker brokeThe engine failed on the way to townher eyesight went after the accident

Breakverb

interrupt a continued activity;

She had broken with the traditional patterns

Breakverb

make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing;

The ranks broke

Breakverb

curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves;

The surf broke

Breakverb

lessen in force or effect;

soften a shockbreak a fall

Breakverb

be broken in;

If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress

Breakverb

come to an end;

The heat wave finally broke yesterday

Breakverb

vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity;

The flat plain was broken by tall mesas

Breakverb

cause to give up a habit;

She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes

Breakverb

give up;

break cigarette smoking

Breakverb

come forth or begin from a state of latency;

The first winter storm broke over New York

Breakverb

happen or take place;

Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months

Breakverb

cause the failure or ruin of;

His peccadilloes finally broke his marriageThis play will either make or break the playwright

Breakverb

invalidate by judicial action;

The will was broken

Breakverb

discontinue an association or relation; go different ways;

The business partners broke over a tax questionThe couple separated after 25 years of marriageMy friend and I split up

Breakverb

assign to a lower position; reduce in rank;

She was demoted because she always speaks upHe was broken down to Sargeant

Breakverb

reduce to bankruptcy;

My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!The slump in the financial markets smashed him

Breakverb

change directions suddenly

Breakverb

emerge from the surface of a body of water;

The whales broke

Breakverb

break down, literally or metaphorically;

The wall collapsedThe business collapsedThe dam brokeThe roof collapsedThe wall gave inThe roof finally gave under the weight of the ice

Breakverb

do a break dance;

Kids were break-dancing at the street corner

Breakverb

exchange for smaller units of money;

I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy

Breakverb

destroy the completeness of a set of related items;

The book dealer would not break the set

Breakverb

make the opening shot that scatters the balls

Breakverb

separate from a clinch, in boxing;

The referee broke the boxers

Breakverb

go to pieces;

The lawn mower finally brokeThe gears wore outThe old chair finally fell apart completely

Breakverb

break a piece from a whole;

break a branch from a tree

Breakverb

become punctured or penetrated;

The skin broke

Breakverb

pierce or penetrate;

The blade broke her skin

Breakverb

be released or become known; of news;

News of her death broke in the morning

Breakverb

cease an action temporarily;

We pause for station identificationlet's break for lunch

Breakverb

interrupt the flow of current in;

break a circuit

Breakverb

undergo breaking;

The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages

Breakverb

find a flaw in;

break an alibibreak down a proof

Breakverb

find the solution or key to;

break the code

Breakverb

change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another;

Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children

Breakverb

happen;

Report the news as it developsThese political movements recrudesce from time to time

Breakverb

become fractured; break or crack on the surface only;

The glass cracked when it was heated

Breakverb

of the male voice in puberty;

his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir

Breakverb

fall sharply;

stock prices broke

Breakverb

fracture a bone of;

I broke my foot while playing hockey

Breakverb

diminish or discontinue abruptly;

The patient's fever broke last night

Breakverb

weaken or destroy in spirit or body;

His resistance was brokena man broken by the terrible experience of near-death