noun

snipping

SNIP-ing

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Snipping (noun) means the action of snipping or cutting something. Example: “She used a snipping tool to grab the chart from the report and paste it into her slides.”

noun

The action of snipping or cutting something.

"She used a snipping tool to grab the chart from the report and paste it into her slides."

"Press Windows key + Shift + S to open the snipping tool and drag around the part of the screen you want."

"There was a time when all manner of snippings were made to keep Handel's operas within bounds." — Raymond Leppard, Thomas P. Lewis (1993)

"After a bit of careful snipping, the photo fitted the frame."

"The gardener left a pile of snippings under the hedge."

The action of cutting something with small, quick cuts.

"The gardener's snipping of the roses took most of the morning."

"A bit of careful snipping tidied up the frayed hem."

"The hairdresser's snipping left the fringe perfectly straight."

A small piece that has been cut off, such as a scrap of hair or fabric.

"She swept the snippings of hair from the floor after the haircut."

"The tailor kept a jar of fabric snippings for future patches."

"A few paper snippings were left over from the collage."

informal The removal of the unnecessary or irrelevant parts of a quoted message when replying to it online.

"His snipping of the quoted email left only the one line he wanted to answer."

"Heavy snipping in a forum reply can strip out context the next reader needs."

How to use snipping

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSnipping is cutting something with small, quick cuts, or the little piece that ends up on the floor afterwards.

When to use it

Snipping is an everyday, informal word at home in ordinary conversation and writing.

Memory tip

Mind the double p, and don't mix it up with sniping, which is about shooting from a distance or bidding at the last moment, not cutting.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

sniping →

Common pairings

a bit of snipping hair snippings fabric snippings careful snipping

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “snipping” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She used a _____ tool to grab the chart from the report and paste it into her slides.

Etymology

Snipping is formed within English from the verb snip by adding the ending -ing, which turns a verb into its present participle or gerund. As a noun it names either the act of snipping or a piece produced by it.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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snip clipping snippet

Related words

cut piece cutting crop clip trim bargain excerpt

Rhymes for snipping

tipping dipping ripping nipping sipping yipping shipping whipping slipping dripping clipping gripping

See all rhymes for snipping →

Frequently asked questions

What does snipping mean?

Snipping means cutting something with small, quick cuts, or a small piece produced by doing this, such as a scrap of hair or fabric.

What is the plural of snipping?

The plural is snippings, used for the individual pieces cut off, such as hair snippings or fabric snippings.

What does snipping mean when replying to an email or forum post?

In that context, snipping means cutting out the parts of a quoted message that are not needed, leaving only the relevant lines in the reply.

What is a snipping tool?

A snipping tool is a program for taking a screenshot of just part of your screen. Windows has one built in called Snipping Tool, opened with Windows key + Shift + S; on a Mac, Shift + Command + 4 does the same job.

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cut piece cutting crop clip trim bargain excerpt