grab
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grab 1
(grăb)v. grabbed, grab·bing, grabs
v.tr.
1. To take or grasp suddenly: grabbed the letter from me.
2. To capture or restrain; arrest.
3. To obtain or appropriate unscrupulously or forcibly: grab public funds; grab power.
4. To take hurriedly: grabbed my coat and hat and left.
5. Slang To capture the attention of: a plot that grabs the reader.
v.intr.
To make a grasping or snatching motion: We grabbed for the life raft.
n.
1.
a. A sudden attempt to grasp or hold something: made a grab for the railing.
b. A sudden, often unscrupulous taking control or ownership of something: "The imminence of death is reflected in every last power-stroke and grab of the great money bosses" (Dylan Thomas).
2. A mechanical device for gripping an object.
adj.
Idiom: Relating or being an object or device that is grabbed or gripped for support or balance: installed a grab bar in the shower.
up for grabs Slang
Available for anyone to take or win: "The reputation of the ... king is still up for grabs" (William Zinsser).
[Obsolete Dutch or Low German grabben, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; see ghrebh- in Indo-European roots.]
grab′ba·ble adj.
grab′ber n.
grab 2
(grăb)n.
A usually two-masted, sharp-prowed coastal vessel of the Indian Ocean.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
grab
(ɡræb)vb, grabs, grabbing or grabbed
1. to seize hold of (something)
2. (tr) to seize illegally or unscrupulously
3. (tr) to arrest; catch
4. (Automotive Engineering) (intr) (of a brake or clutch in a vehicle) to grip and release intermittently causing juddering
5. (tr) informal to catch the attention or interest of; impress
n
6. the act or an instance of grabbing
7. (Mechanical Engineering) a mechanical device for gripping objects, esp the hinged jaws of a mechanical excavator
8. something that is grabbed
9. up for grabs informal available to be bought, claimed, or won
[C16: probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch grabben; related to Swedish grabba, Sanskrit grbhnāti he seizes]
ˈgrabber n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
grab
(græb)v. grabbed, grab•bing,
n. v.t.
1. to seize suddenly, eagerly, or roughly; snatch.
2. to take illegal possession of; seize forcibly or unscrupulously: to grab land.
3. to obtain and consume quickly: Let's grab a sandwich.
4. Informal.
v.i. a. to cause a reaction in; affect: How does my idea grab you?
b. to arouse the interest or excitement of.
5. to make a grasping or clutching motion.
6. (of brakes, a clutch, etc.) to take hold suddenly or with a jolting motion.
n. 7. a sudden, eager grasp or snatch.
8. seizure or acquisition by violent or unscrupulous means.
9. something that is grabbed.
10. a mechanical device for gripping objects.
11. the capacity to hold or adhere.
Idioms: up for grabs, available to whoever expends the necessary energy, money, or ingenuity first.
[1580–90; akin to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German grabben, Swedish grabba]
grab′ba•ble, adj.
grab′ber, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
grab
Past participle: grabbed
Gerund: grabbing
| Imperative |
|---|
| grab |
| grab |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  grab - a mechanical device for gripping an objectmechanical device - mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles |
| 2. |  grab - the act of catching an object with the hands; "Mays made the catch with his back to the plate"; "he made a grab for the ball before it landed"; "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away"; "the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion"touching, touch - the act of putting two things together with no space between them; "at his touch the room filled with lights" fair catch - (American football) a catch of a punt on the fly by a defensive player who has signalled that he will not run and so should not be tackled interception - (American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team reception - (American football) the act of catching a pass in football; "the tight end made a great reception on the 20 yard line" rebound - the act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot shoestring catch - (baseball) a running catch made near the ground interlock, interlocking, meshing, mesh - the act of interlocking or meshing; "an interlocking of arms by the police held the crowd in check" | |
| Verb | 1. | grab - take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of; "Catch the ball!"; "Grab the elevator door!" catch - be the catcher; "Who is catching?" harpoon - spear with a harpoon; "harpoon whales" fish - catch or try to catch fish or shellfish; "I like to go fishing on weekends" clutch, prehend, seize - take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" hook - catch with a hook; "hook a fish" |
| 2. | grab - get hold of or seize quickly and easily; "I snapped up all the good buys during the garage sale" take - take into one's possession; "We are taking an orphan from Romania"; "I'll take three salmon steaks" hog - take greedily; take more than one's share | |
| 3. | grab - make a grasping or snatching motion with the hand; "The passenger grabbed for the oxygen mask" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" | |
| 4. | grab - obtain illegally or unscrupulously; "Grab power" obtain - come into possession of; "How did you obtain the visa?" | |
| 5. | grab - take or grasp suddenly; "She grabbed the child's hand and ran out of the room" | |
| 6. | grab - capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
grab
verb snatch, catch, seize, capture, bag, grip, grasp, clutch, snap up, pluck, latch on to, catch or take hold of I managed to grab her hand.
noun lunge I made a grab for the knife.
up for grabs available, for sale, on the market, to be had, up for sale, obtainable The famous Ritz Hotel is up for grabs for £100 million.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
grab
verb1. To get hold of (something moving):
Informal: nab.
Idiom: lay hands on.
2. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on:
3. To take quick and forcible possession of:
Idiom: help oneself to.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
grab
[græb]A. N
1. (= snatch) to make a grab at or for sth → intentar agarrar algo
it's all up for grabs → está a disposición de cualquiera
it's all up for grabs → está a disposición de cualquiera
2. (esp Brit) (Tech) → cuchara f
B. VT
1. (= seize) → coger, agarrar (LAm); (greedily) → echar mano a
to grab sth from sb → arrebatarle algo a algn
to grab hold of sth/sb → agarrar algo/a algn
to grab sth from sb → arrebatarle algo a algn
to grab hold of sth/sb → agarrar algo/a algn
2. (fig) [+ chance etc] → aprovechar
I'll just grab a quick shower → me voy a dar una ducha rápida
we can grab a sandwich on the way → comeremos un bocadillo por el camino
I managed to grab him before he left → conseguí pillarle antes de que se marchara
I'll just grab a quick shower → me voy a dar una ducha rápida
we can grab a sandwich on the way → comeremos un bocadillo por el camino
I managed to grab him before he left → conseguí pillarle antes de que se marchara
3. (= attract, appeal to) how does that grab you? → ¿qué te parece?
that really grabbed me → aquello me entusiasmó de verdad
it doesn't grab me → no me va
that really grabbed me → aquello me entusiasmó de verdad
it doesn't grab me → no me va
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
grab
(grab) – past tense, past participle grabbed – verb2. to get by rough or illegal means. Many people tried to grab land when oil was discovered in the district.apropiarse de, arrebatar, echar mano a
noun a sudden attempt to grasp or seize. He made a grab at the boy.asimiento, acto de agarrar
grab at to try to grasp, seize or take, not necessarily successfully. He grabbed at the boy; He grabbed at the chance to leave. tratar de asir/agarrar, intentar agarrar/asir
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
grab
→ agarrarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009