/ ˈsnuːkə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a game for two people played on a long table covered with green cloth. Players use cues (= long sticks) to hit a white ball against other balls (15 red and 6 of other colours) in order to get the coloured balls into pockets at the edge of the table, in a particular set order :
to play snooker
a game of snooker
a snooker hall / player / table, etc.
—compare billiards , pool
2.
[ C ] a position in snooker in which one player has made it very difficult for the opponent to play a shot within the rules
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
( in the game of snooker ) to have your opponent in a snooker (2)
2.
( BrE , informal ) to make it impossible for sb to do sth, especially sth they want to do :
Any plans I'd had for the weekend were by now well and truly snookered.
3.
( NAmE , informal ) to cheat or trick sb
For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.