snætʃ v. & n. --v.tr. 1
seize quickly, eagerly, or unexpectedly,
esp.
with outstretched hands. 2
steal (a
wallet,
handbag, etc.). 3
secure with
difficulty (snatched an hour's rest). 4 (foll. by
away, from)
take away or
from esp. suddenly (snatched away my hand). 5 (foll. by from)
rescue narrowly (snatched from
the jaws of death). 6 (foll. by at) a
try to seize by stretching or
grasping suddenly. b take (an
offer etc.) eagerly. --n. 1 an
act of snatching (made a snatch at it). 2 a
fragment of a
song or
talk etc. (caught a snatch of
their conversation). 3 US sl. a kidnapping. 4 (in weight-lifting) the
rapid raising of a
weight from the
floor to
above the
head. 5 a
short spell of
activity etc. øin (or by) snatches in fits
and starts. øøsnatcher n. (esp. in
sense 3 of n.). snatchy adj. [ME snecchen, sna(c)che, perh. rel. to SNACK]