I. ˈsnach verb
Etymology: Middle English snacchen to snap, seize; akin to Middle Dutch snacken to snap at
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
: to attempt to seize something suddenly
transitive verb
: to take or grasp abruptly or hastily
snatch up a pen
snatch ed the first opportunity
also : to seize or take suddenly without permission, ceremony, or right
snatch ed a kiss
Synonyms: see take
• snatch·er noun
II. noun
Date: 1563
1.
a. : a brief period
caught snatch es of sleep
b. : a brief, fragmentary, or hurried part : bit
caught snatch es of the conversation
2.
a. : a snatching at or of something
b. slang : an act or instance of kidnapping
3. : a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised from the floor directly to an overhead position in a single motion — compare clean and jerk , press
4. usually vulgar : the female pudenda