v. & n.
--v.tr.
1. seize quickly, eagerly, or unexpectedly, esp. with outstretched hands.
2 steal (a wallet, handbag, etc.).
3 secure with difficulty (snatched an hour's rest).
4 (foll. by away, from) take away or from esp. suddenly (snatched away my hand).
5 (foll. by from) rescue narrowly (snatched from the jaws of death).
6 (foll. by at) a try to seize by stretching or grasping suddenly. b take (an offer etc.) eagerly.
--n.
1. an act of snatching (made a snatch at it).
2 a fragment of a song or talk etc. (caught a snatch of their conversation).
3 US sl. a kidnapping.
4 (in weight-lifting) the rapid raising of a weight from the floor to above the head.
5 a short spell of activity etc.
Phrases and idioms:
in (or by) snatches in fits and starts.
Derivatives:
snatcher n. (esp. in sense 3 of n.). snatchy adj.
Etymology: ME snecchen, sna(c)che, perh. rel. to SNACK