Snick

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /snɪk/

Definitions

1. To produce a brief, sharp cutting or snapping sound ; to perform a quick, secretive cutting action ; a slight, shallow cut or small notch in an object
2. To emit a sudden, crisp noise resembling a short slice ; to cause a discreet incision or slice often done stealthily ; a minor incision or a thin groove made on a surface
3. To create a sharp, short noise like a small blade striking ; to quietly and rapidly cut or slice something without notice ; a tiny mark or small slice indicating a cut edge

Etymology: "Snick" is a verb of sound before it is a verb of cutting. Its most likely root is "snee", a Scots and northern English word meaning to cut or slash, and the two words may have blended, which is why the source offers both as possibilities rather than a single parent. Dictionaries also treat the word as imitative, meaning its sound is meant to suggest the thing it describes: the quick, crisp click of a blade closing or striking. That sound-first quality explains the later senses. A snick is a light, sharp noise, and something snicked is cut quickly and neatly, often so cleanly that no one notices at once. The small notch or nick left on a cut edge is a snick too, which links the act of cutting to the mark it leaves behind.

Synonyms: cut, slice, nip

Antonyms: attach, join, connect