snatch
snatch Lexical Profile
snatch Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To seize, grab, or take something quickly, eagerly, or abruptly.
"A seagull swooped down to snatch the sandwich right out of his hand."
To manage to obtain or secure something quickly despite difficulty or limited time.
"The visiting team managed to snatch a dramatic victory in the final seconds of the match."
To abduct or kidnap someone suddenly (informal).
"Witnesses told detectives that the victim was snatched from the street corner in broad daylight."
• noun
An act of seizing or grabbing something suddenly and quickly.
"The outfielder made a desperate snatch at the ball just before it hit the turf."
A short, fragmented piece or brief period of something, such as a conversation, song, or sleep.
"Through the open window, she could hear only brief snatches of their conversation."
An Olympic weightlifting event in which the barbell is lifted from the floor to directly overhead in one continuous, explosive movement.
"She set a new personal record in the snatch before moving on to the clean and jerk."
Word Nuance & Usage
In informal and vulgar slang, 'snatch' is also used as a noun referring to the female genitalia; speakers should exercise caution with noun uses in casual contexts to avoid unintended double entendres.
• Rhymes for snatch
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating back to the 13th century, from Middle English snacchen ('to seize suddenly'), which is likely related to the noun snack and dialectal Germanic words denoting a sudden bite or snap of a dog's jaws.