First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1snatch
verb \ˈsnach\
: to take (something) quickly or eagerly
: to take (something or someone) suddenly from a person or place often by using force
Full Definition of SNATCH
intransitive verb
: to attempt to seize something suddenly
transitive verb
: to take or grasp abruptly or hastily <snatch up a pen> <snatched the first opportunity>; also : to seize or take suddenly without permission, ceremony, or right <snatched a kiss>
— snatch·er noun
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See snatch defined for kids
Origin of SNATCH
Middle English snacchen to snap, seize; akin to Middle Dutch snacken to snap at
Related to SNATCH
Synonym Discussion of SNATCH
take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand. take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control <take some salad from the bowl>. seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible <seized the suspect>. grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession <grasp the handle and pull>. clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding <clutching her purse>. snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize <snatched a doughnut and ran>. grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch <grabbed roughly by the arm>.
2snatch
noun
Full Definition of SNATCH
1
a : a brief period <caught snatches of sleep> b : a brief, fragmentary, or hurried part : bit <caught snatches of the conversation>
2
a : a snatching at or of something b slang : an act or instance of kidnapping
3
: a lift in weight lifting in which the weight is raised from the floor directly to an overhead position in a single motion — compare clean and jerk, press
4
usually vulgar : the female pudenda
See snatch defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SNATCH
1563
Related to SNATCH
- Synonyms
- hijacking (also highjacking), kidnapping (also kidnaping), rape, abduction [slang]
SNATCH Defined for Kids
1snatch
verb \ˈsnach\
snatchedsnatch·ing
Definition of SNATCH for Kids
: to take hold of or try to take hold of something quickly or suddenly <… he snatched up his towel. “I'm leaving,” he called down the beach. — Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins>
2snatch
noun
Definition of SNATCH for Kids
1
: something brief, hurried, or in small bits <snatches of old songs>
2
: an act of taking hold of something quickly
3
: a brief period <I slept in snatches.>
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