ɡræb v. & n. --v. (grabbed, grabbing) 1 tr. a
seize suddenly. b
capture,
arrest. 2 tr.
take greedily or unfairly. 3 tr. sl.
attract the attention of, impress. 4 intr. (foll. by at)
make a
sudden snatch at. 5 intr. (of the brakes of a
motor vehicle)
act harshly or jerkily. --n. 1 a sudden clutch or
attempt to seize. 2 a
mechanical device for clutching. 3 the
practice of grabbing;
rapacious proceedings
esp. in
politics and commerce. 4 a children's card-game in
which certain cards
may be snatched
from the
table. øgrab-bag US a
lucky dip. grab
handle (or rail etc.) a handle or rail etc. to
steady passengers in a
moving vehicle. up for grabs sl.
easily obtainable;
inviting capture. øøgrabber n. [MLG, MDu. grabben:
cf.
GRIP,
GRIPE, GROPE]