snag
a tree or part of a tree held fast in the bottom of a river, lake, etc., and forming an impediment or danger to navigation.
a short, projecting stump, as of a branch broken or cut off.
any sharp or rough projection.
a jagged hole, tear, pull, or run in a fabric, as caused by catching on a sharp projection.
any obstacle or impediment.
a stump of a tooth or a projecting tooth; snaggletooth.
to run or catch up on a snag.
to damage by so doing.
to obstruct or impede, as a snag does: He snagged all my efforts.
to grab; seize: to snag the last piece of pie.
to become entangled with some obstacle or hindrance.
to become tangled: This line snags every time I cast.
(of a boat) to strike a snag.
to form a snag.
Origin of snag
1Other words from snag
- snaglike, adjective
- un·snagged, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for snag
/ (snæɡ) /
a difficulty or disadvantage: the snag is that I have nothing suitable to wear
a sharp protuberance, such as a tree stump
a small loop or hole in a fabric caused by a sharp object
engineering a projection that brings to a stop a sliding or rotating component
mainly US and Canadian a tree stump in a riverbed that is dangerous to navigation
US and Canadian a standing dead tree, esp one used as a perch by an eagle
(plural) Australian slang sausages
(tr) to hinder or impede
(tr) to tear or catch (fabric)
(intr) to develop a snag
(intr) mainly US and Canadian (of a boat) to strike or be damaged by a snag
(tr) mainly US and Canadian to clear (a stretch of water) of snags
(tr) US to seize (an opportunity, benefit, etc)
Origin of snag
1Derived forms of snag
- snaglike, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with snag
see hit a snag.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse