grab Hear it!

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grab definition

grab (grab)

transitive verb grabbed, grabbing grab′·bing

  1. to seize or snatch suddenly; take roughly and quickly
  2. to get possession of by unscrupulous methods
  3. ☆ Slang to attract strongly the attention of; impress greatly

Etymology: prob. < MDu grabben, akin to ON grapa, grasp < IE base *ghrebh- > Sans grabh-, to seize

intransitive verb

to grab or try to grab something: often with for, at, onto, etc.

noun

  1. the act of grabbing
  2. something grabbed
  3. any of various mechanical devices for clutching something to be hoisted
  4. Chiefly Brit. clamshell (sense )

Related Forms:

grab Idioms

up for grabs

☆
Slang available to the highest bidder, most aggressive person, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms grab idiom

grab Synonyms

grab

n.

grasp, clutch, snatch; see grip 2.

up for grabs*

offered, obtainable, for the taking; see available, free 4.


grab

v.

clutch, grasp, take; see seize 1, 2. See syn. study at seize.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

grab Usage Examples

Object

  • handful: I reach in and grab a handful, shoving them into the machine with the felt-tipped sign ' service washes only ' .

Modifies a noun

  • rail: Am I eligible for lever taps, lowering a cistern or having a grab rail of some sort fitted in my home?

Modifying Another Word

  • instantly: Although it doesn't necessarily instantly grab you, it is a definite grower and well worth a few listenings.

Noun used with modifier

  • screen: See It Very useful section where you can see actual screen grabs of the program at work.
grab usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"grab." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/grab>

APA Style

grab. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/grab

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