1. a standing, generally unmerchantable dead tree from which the leaves and most of the branches have fallen —note for wildlife habitat purposes, a snag is sometimes regarded as being at least 10 in (25.4 cm) in diameter at breast height and at least 6 ft (1.8 m) tall; a hard snag is composed primarily of sound wood, generally merchantable, and a soft snag is composed primarily of wood in advanced stages of decay and deterioration —see biological legacy, cull 2. a standing section of the stem of a tree, broken off usually below the crown 3. a sunken log or a submerged stump or tree 4. the projecting base of a broken or cut branch on a tree stem This definition last updated 10/07/2008