'Seize' definitions:

Definition of 'seize'

(from WordNet)
verb
Take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" [syn: seize, prehend, clutch]
verb
Take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages"
verb
Take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle" [syn: appropriate, capture, seize, conquer]
verb
Take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority; "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the stolen artwork" [syn: impound, attach, sequester, confiscate, seize]
verb
Seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died" [syn: assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate]
verb
Hook by a pull on the line; "strike a fish"
verb
Affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" [syn: seize, clutch, get hold of]
verb
Capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination" [syn: grab, seize]

Definition of 'Seize'

From: GCIDE
  • Seize \Seize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seized; p. pr. & vb. n. Seizing.] [OE. seisen, saisen, OF. seisir, saisir, F. saisir, of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. set. The meaning is properly, to set, put, place, hence, to put in possession of. See Set, v. t.]
  • 1. To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold of; to gripe or grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp. [1913 Webster]
  • For by no means the high bank he could seize. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands The royalties and rights of banished Hereford? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To take possession of by force. [1913 Webster]
  • At last they seize The scepter, and regard not David's sons. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient. [1913 Webster]
  • Hope and deubt alternate seize her seul. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (law) To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or other legal authority; as, the sheriff seized the debtor's goods. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To fasten; to fix. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • As when a bear hath seized her cruel claws Upon the carcass of some beast too weak. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To grap with the mind; to comprehend fully and distinctly; as, to seize an idea. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Naut.) To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff, as yarn or marline; as, to seize ropes. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: This word, by writers on law, is commonly written seise, in the phrase to be seised of (an estate), as also, in composition, disseise, disseisin. [1913 Webster]
  • To be seized of, to have possession, or right of possession; as, A B was seized and possessed of the manor of Dale. "Whom age might see seized of what youth made prize." --Chapman.
  • To seize on or To seize upon, to fall on and grasp; to take hold on; to take possession of suddenly and forcibly. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: To catch; grasp; clutch; snatch; apprehend; arrest; take; capture. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'seize'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Seize'