snag

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsnæg/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/snæg/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(snag)

Inflections of 'snag' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
snags
v 3rd person singular
snagging
v pres p
snagged
v past
snagged
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
snag /snæg/USA pronunciation   n., v., snagged, snag•ging. 
n. [countable]
  1. something that is sharp and sticks out.
  2. a hole, tear, or run in a fabric, caused by catching on something that sticks out.
  3. anything that gets in the way of progress:Our plans hit a snag when our best player broke her leg.

v. [+ object]
  1. to catch on a snag:snagging her clothing on the branches.
  2. to grab;
    seize:The shortstop snagged a sharp line drive.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
snag  (snag),USA pronunciation n., v., snagged, snag•ging. 
n. 
  1. 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.
  2. a short, projecting stump, as of a branch broken or cut off.
  3. any sharp or rough projection.
  4. a jagged hole, tear, pull, or run in a fabric, as caused by catching on a sharp projection.
  5. any obstacle or impediment.
  6. Dentistrya stump of a tooth or a projecting tooth;
    snaggletooth.

v.t. 
  1. to run or catch up on a snag.
  2. to damage by so doing.
  3. to obstruct or impede, as a snag does:He snagged all my efforts.
  4. to grab;
    seize:to snag the last piece of pie.

v.i. 
  1. to become entangled with some obstacle or hindrance.
  2. to become tangled:This line snags every time I cast.
  3. Nautical, Naval Terms(of a boat) to strike a snag.
  4. to form a snag.
  • Old Norse snagi point, projection
  • 1570–80
snaglike′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
snag / snæɡ/
  1. a difficulty or disadvantage: the snag is that I have nothing suitable to wear
  2. a sharp protuberance, such as a tree stump
  3. a small loop or hole in a fabric caused by a sharp object
  4. a tree stump in a riverbed that is dangerous to navigation
  5. a standing dead tree, esp one used as a perch by an eagle
(snags, snagging, snagged)
  1. (transitive) to hinder or impede
  2. (transitive) to tear or catch (fabric)
  3. (intransitive) to develop a snag
  4. (intransitive) (of a boat) to strike or be damaged by a snag
  5. (transitive) to clear (a stretch of water) of snags
  6. (transitive) to seize (an opportunity, benefit, etc)
Etymology: 16th Century: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse snaghyrndr sharp-pointed, Norwegian snage spike, Icelandic snagi peg
'snag' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [sharp, dangerous, prickly, protruding] snag, [metal, branch, thorn, wood, fingernail] snags, a snag in the [skirt, dress, seam, fabric], more...

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