Word Study
grab
CIDE DICTIONARY
grab, n. [Ar. & Hind. ghur crow, raven, a kind of Arab ship.].
A vessel used on the Malabar coast, having two or three masts. [1913 Webster]
To gripe suddenly; to seize; to snatch; to clutch. [1913 Webster]
grab, n.
- A sudden grasp or seizure. [1913 Webster]
- An instrument for clutching objects for the purpose of raising them; -- specially applied to devices for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
grab, v. & n.
--v. (grabbed, grabbing)
1 tr. a seize suddenly. b capture, arrest.
2 tr. take greedily or unfairly.
3 tr. sl. attract the attention of, impress.
4 intr. (foll. by at) make a sudden snatch at.
5 intr. (of the brakes of a motor vehicle) act harshly or jerkily.
--n.
1 a sudden clutch or attempt to seize.
2 a mechanical device for clutching.
3 the practice of grabbing; rapacious proceedings esp. in politics and commerce.
4 a children's card-game in which certain cards may be snatched from the table.
--v. (grabbed, grabbing)
1 tr. a seize suddenly. b capture, arrest.
2 tr. take greedily or unfairly.
3 tr. sl. attract the attention of, impress.
4 intr. (foll. by at) make a sudden snatch at.
5 intr. (of the brakes of a motor vehicle) act harshly or jerkily.
--n.
1 a sudden clutch or attempt to seize.
2 a mechanical device for clutching.
3 the practice of grabbing; rapacious proceedings esp. in politics and commerce.
4 a children's card-game in which certain cards may be snatched from the table.
Idiom
grab-bag US a lucky dip. grab handle (or rail etc.) a handle or rail etc. to steady passengers in a moving vehicle. up for grabs sl. easily obtainable; inviting capture.
Derivative
grabber n.
Etymology
MLG, MDu. grabben: cf. GRIP, GRIPE, GROPE
THESAURUS
grab
abduct, abduction, absorb, absorb the attention, annex, apprehend, apprehension, appropriate, arrest, arrest the thoughts, arrestation, arrogate, burglary, caper, capture, carry off, catch, catch the thoughts, catching, charm, clutch, collar, collaring, commandeer, coup, desire, dragnet, enchant, engage, engage the attention, engage the mind, engage the thoughts, engross, engross the mind, engross the thoughts, enthrall, exercise, expropriate, fascinate, fasten upon, filch, forcible seizure, get at, get hold of, glom on to, grab at, grabbing, grapple, grasp, grip, heist, hit, hold, hold spellbound, hold the interest, hypnotize, immerse, impress, involve, involve the interest, job, jump at, kidnap, kidnapping, lay hands on, lay hold of, lift, make an impression, mesmerize, monopolize, nab, nabbing, nail, obsess, occupy, occupy the attention, pick up, picking up, pinch, power grab, prehension, preoccupy, put under arrest, rip-off, robbery, run in, running in, seize, seizure, seizure of power, shanghai, sink in, snag, snatch, snatch at, snatching, spellbind, steal, strike, take, take in, take into custody, take over, take possession, take prisoner, take up, taking in, taking into custody, theft, throttle, usurpROGET THESAURUS
grab
Taking
VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.Parsimony
VB be parsimonious, grudge, begrudge, stint, pinch, gripe, screw, dole out, hold back, withhold, starve, famish, live upon nothing, skin a flint, drive a bargain, drive a hard bargain, cheapen, beat down, stop one hole in a sieve, have an itching palm, grasp, grab.For further exploring for "grab" in Webster Dictionary Online
