v. 1 snatch, lay or catch hold of, fasten upon, grasp, seize; catch, grip, clutch; Colloq latch on to, get one's hands or fingers on, nab, US snag The thief grabbed my purse and ran She grabbed the railing to break her fall. 2 appropriate, expropriate, seize, commandeer, take over, usurp, arrogate The general grabbed the reins of government in the coup 3 arrest, capture, catch, Colloq nab, pinch, collar The police grabbed him as he was leaving the scene of the crime
n. 4 snatch, clutch; grasp, grip I made a grab for the rope