/ snɪp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( -pp- ) snip (at / through) sth to cut sth with scissors using short quick strokes :
[ vn ]
Snip a tiny hole in the paper.
[ v ]
She snipped at the loose threads hanging down.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- snip sth off
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an act of cutting sth with scissors; the sound that this makes :
Make a series of small snips along the edge of the fabric.
Snip, snip, went the scissors.
2.
snips [ pl. ] a tool like large scissors, used for cutting metal
3.
a snip [ sing. ] ( BrE , informal ) a thing that is cheap and good value
SYN bargain :
It's a snip at only £25.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense a shred ): from Low German snip small piece, of imitative origin.