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Added 9 October 2026

snoop

/snuːp/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about snoop at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To be devious and cunning so as not to be seen.
To secretly spy on or investigate, especially into the private personal life of others.
If I had not snooped on her, I wouldn't have found out that she lied about her degree.
To steal.

noun

The act of snooping.
One who snoops.
Be careful what you say around Gene because he's the bosses' snoop.
A private detective.
She hired a snoop to find out if her husband was having an affair.

Origin

From Dutch snoepen (“to pry, eat in secret, sneak”) or maybe Old Norse snópa (“to idle about dismally”), or (“to use a blood found”). Related to Dutch and Low German snappen (“to bite, seize”), Dutch snavel (“beak, bill, pecker, neb”), German Schnabel (“beak, bill, mouth”). More at snap.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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