ENGLISH
REFERENCE

snooze

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsnuz// UK //snˈuːz// snooze Informal

n. a short period of sleep, usually taken during the day. You might take one if you are tired after a long night or a busy morning.

n. a brief period of sleep, typically occurring during the day or following a period of wakefulness.


SIMPLE

I need a quick snooze before my morning meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long hike through the mountains, the group decided to take a short snooze in the shade of the trees.

COMPLEX

While a full night's rest is essential for cognitive function, a strategic snooze can help the body recover from minor fatigue without entering a deep sleep cycle.

Synonyms
Origin

Unknown, attested since 18th century. Compare Dutch snoezelen (“to snooze”) or Swedish snusa (“to snore lightly”). Compare also Ancient Greek νυστάζω (nustázō, “to doze, drowse”) and Russian сон (son, “sleep, dream”).

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