snack
snak
Snack (noun) means a small amount of food eaten between main meals. Example: “She grabbed a snack from the vending machine before class.”
noun
1
A small amount of food eaten between main meals.
"She grabbed a snack from the vending machine before class."
"We packed some snacks for the long drive."
"I usually have an apple as a snack around four o'clock."
2
Slang for a very attractive person.
"Everyone agreed the new intern was an absolute snack."
"My mates say the new barista is a total snack."
"Did you see the guy at the gym? Absolute snack!"
verb
1
To eat a small amount of food, often between meals.
"He tends to snack on crisps while watching TV."
"Do you mind if I snack while we wait for dinner?"
"The children snacked on grapes all afternoon in the garden."
How to use snack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small bite of food between meals; informally, also used to describe someone very good-looking.
When to use it
The "attractive person" sense is casual slang, common on social media.
Common pairings
grab a snack
a healthy snack
snack on something
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Word forms
- Plural
- snacks
- Third person singular
- snacks
- Past tense
- snacked
Fill the gap
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She grabbed a _____ from the vending machine before class.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch snacken ("to snap, to bite"), which originally meant a quick bite of food.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for snack
See all rhymes for snack →Frequently asked questions
What does “snack” mean?
The word “snack” means a small amount of food eaten between main meals. In plain terms, a small bite of food between meals; informally, also used to describe someone very good-looking.
How do you pronounce “snack”?
“Snack” is pronounced snak (/snæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “snack” in a sentence?
Here is “snack” used in a sentence: “She grabbed a snack from the vending machine before class.”
What part of speech is “snack”?
Depending on how it is used, “snack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “snack” come from?
The word “snack” comes from Dutch. From Middle Dutch snacken ("to snap, to bite"), which originally meant a quick bite of food.
Is “snack” a common word?
“Snack” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “snack” have?
“Snack” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small amount of food eaten between main meals.
What is the difference between a snack and a meal?
A snack is a small amount of food eaten between main meals, while a meal is a larger, more substantial serving eaten at set times such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Snacks are lighter and usually eaten to tide someone over.
What is the difference between snack and nibble?
To snack is to eat a small amount of food between meals, while to nibble is to eat something in small, gentle bites. Nibbling describes the manner of eating, whereas snacking describes eating a light amount outside main meals.
Is calling someone a snack formal or informal?
Calling someone a "snack" to mean they are very attractive is informal slang, common in casual and online speech. It should be avoided in formal writing, where it would be out of place.
What words commonly go with snack?
Common collocations include "snack bar," "afternoon snack," "healthy snack," and "midnight snack." As a verb, people often "snack on" something, as in "snack on nuts."
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