grab Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mechanical device for gripping an object
  2. noun the act of catching an object with the hands
    catch; snap; snatch.
    • Mays made the catch with his back to the plate
    • he made a grab for the ball before it landed
    • Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away
    • the infielder's snap and throw was a single motion
  3. verb take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
    catch; take hold of.
    • Catch the ball!
    • Grab the elevator door!
  4. verb get hold of or seize quickly and easily
    snap up; snaffle.
    • I snapped up all the good buys during the garage sale
  5. verb make a grasping or snatching motion with the hand
    • The passenger grabbed for the oxygen mask
  6. verb obtain illegally or unscrupulously
    • Grab power
  7. verb take or grasp suddenly
    • She grabbed the child's hand and ran out of the room
  8. verb capture the attention or imagination of
    seize.
    • This story will grab you
    • The movie seized my imagination

WordNet


Grab noun
Etymology
Ar. & Hind. ghurb crow, raven, a kind of Arab ship.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) A vessel used on the Malabar coast, having two or three masts.
Grab transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
Akin to Sw. grabba to grasp. Cf. Grabble, Grapple, Grasp.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Grabbed ; present participle & verbal noun Grabbing
Definitions
  1. To gripe suddenly; to seize; to snatch; to clutch.
Grab noun
Definitions
  1. A sudden grasp or seizure.
  2. An instrument for clutching objects for the purpose of raising them; -- specially applied to devices for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.

Webster 1913