Breaks suddenly with a sharp cracking sound; takes a photograph quickly; speaks sharply or angrily.
From Middle Dutch 'snappen' meaning 'to seize' or 'to bite', possibly imitative of the sound. The photographic sense developed in the early 20th century from the quick, sudden action of early camera shutters that literally 'snapped'.
The word 'snap' perfectly demonstrates onomatopoeia - it sounds like what it describes. In photography, 'snapshot' originally referred to shooting without careful aim (like a hunter's snap shot), but now it's evolved to mean any casual, quick photograph, especially with smartphones.
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