Seize - Definition

v 1: 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]
2: take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the
politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian
hostages"
3: 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]
4: 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]
5: 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]
6: hook by a pull on the line; "strike a fish"
7: 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]
8: capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will
grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination" [syn: grab,
seize]