grab

1. 1

   To grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch.transitive

   • I grabbed her hand to pull her back from the cliff edge.
2. 2

   To make a sudden grasping or clutching motion (at something).intransitive

   • The suspect suddenly broke free and grabbed at the policeman's gun.
   • Stop grabbing or I won't give you any cookies.
3. 3

   To restrain someone; to arrest.

4. 4

   To grip the attention of; to enthrall or interest.transitive

   • How does that idea grab you?
5. 5

   To quickly collect, retrieve, or take.informal

   • Come in and grab a seat [i.e. sit down].
6. 6

   To consume something quickly.informal

   • We'll just grab a sandwich and then we'll be on our way.
   • Is there time to grab a coffee?
7. 7

   To take the opportunity of.

   • Both teams wasted good opportunities to score but it was the London side who did grab what proved to be the decisive third when the unmarked Vaz Te, a January signing from Barnsley, drilled the ball into the net from 12 yards.

1. 1

   A sudden snatch at something.countable

   • The ball popped in and popped out, and when he made a grab for it on the ground he kicked it with his foot.
   • He made a grab for me and I swung my handbag at him as hard as I could.
2. 2

   An acquisition by violent or unjust means.countable

3. 3

   A mechanical device that grabs or clutches.countable

   • Almost all modern cranes are electrically operated and a quick-acting type of 30 cwt. capacity is suitable for general cargo, but not powerful enough to operate grabs for discharge of bulk cargoes.
4. 4

   A mechanical device that grabs or clutches.; A device for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.countableuncountable

5. 5

   A sound bite.countable

   • For example, one radio bulletin may feature one central issue, like a state election, and will focus on that issue. The bulletin might contain only a few voice wraps but many grabs, leaving the focus firmly on the newsreader.
6. 6

   That which is seized.countableobsoleteuncountable

7. 7

   The rescue of a person from a burning structure.countableslanguncountable

   • There have been many rescues made as a result of an aggressive search team who went in without a hoseline to make the grab.
8. 8

   A simple card game.uncountable

syn. catch · clutch · grasp · seize · snatch

1. 1

   A two- or three-masted vessel used on the Malabar coast.