(~s, seizing, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ something, you take hold of it quickly, firmly, and forcefully.
‘Leigh,’ he said seizing my arm to hold me back.
...an otter seizing a fish.
VERB: V n, V n
2.
When a group of people ~ a place or ~ control of it, they take control of it quickly and suddenly, using force.
Troops have ~d the airport and railroad terminals...
Army officers plotted a failed attempt yesterday to ~ power.
= take
VERB: V n, V n
3.
If a government or other authority ~ someone’s property, they take it from them, often by force.
Police were reported to have ~d all copies of this morning’s edition of the newspaper...
VERB: V n
4.
When someone is ~d, they are arrested or captured.
UN officials say two military observers were ~d by the Khmer Rouge yesterday...
Men carrying sub-machine guns ~d the five soldiers and drove them away.
VERB: be V-ed, V n
5.
When you ~ an opportunity, you take advantage of it and do something that you want to do.
During the riots hundreds of people ~d the opportunity to steal property...
VERB: V n