/ græb; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -bb- )
1.
grab sth (from sb/sth) to take or hold sb/sth with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly
SYN seize :
[ vn ]
She grabbed the child's hand and ran.
He grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go.
Jim grabbed a cake from the plate.
[ v ]
Don't grab—there's plenty for everyone.
2.
[ v ] grab at / for sth to try to take hold of sth :
She grabbed at the branch, missed and fell.
Kate grabbed for the robber's gun.
3.
grab (at sth) to take advantage of an opportunity to do or have sth
SYN seize :
[ vn ]
This was my big chance and I grabbed it with both hands.
[ v ]
He'll grab at any excuse to avoid doing the dishes.
4.
[ vn ] to have or take sth quickly, especially because you are in a hurry :
Let's grab a sandwich before we go.
I managed to grab a couple of hours' sleep on the plane.
Grab a seat , I won't keep you a moment.
5.
[ vn ] to take sth for yourself, especially in a selfish or greedy way :
By the time we arrived, someone had grabbed all the good seats.
6.
[ vn ] to get sb's attention :
I'll see if I can grab the waitress and get the bill.
Glasgow's drugs problem has grabbed the headlines tonight (= been published as an important story in the newspapers).
•
IDIOMS
- how does ... grab you?
■ noun
1.
[ usually sing. ] grab (at / for sb/sth) a sudden attempt to take or hold sb/sth :
He made a grab for her bag.
—see also smash-and-grab
2.
( computing ) a picture taken from a television or video film, stored as an image on a computer :
a screen grab from Wednesday's programme
3.
a piece of equipment which lifts and holds goods, for example the equipment that hangs from a crane
•
IDIOMS
- up for grabs
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch grabben ; perhaps related to grip , gripe , and grope .