seize

[ seez ]

/ siz /

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp: to seize a weapon.

to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely: to seize an idea.

to take possession of by force or at will: to seize enemy ships.

to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold: Panic seized the crowd.

to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate: to seize smuggled goods.

Also seise. Law. to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions): She was seized of vast estates.

to capture; take into custody.

to take advantage of promptly: to seize an opportunity.

Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on or upon): to seize on a rope.

to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on or upon): He must seize on a solution, however risky.

to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually followed by up): The engine seized up from cold.

Origin of seize

1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen < Old French saisir < Medieval Latin sacīre to place (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam to take as one's own, lay claim to) < Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan to set, put, place

SYNONYMS FOR seize

1 clutch, grab.

7 arrest, apprehend.

ANTONYMS FOR seize

7 release.

synonym study for seize

7. See catch.

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

seiz·a·ble, adjective seiz·er; Law. sei·zor

[see-zer, -zawr] /ˈsi zər, -zɔr/, noun re·seize, verb (used with object), re·seized, re·seiz·ing. un·seiz·a·ble, adjective

un·seized, adjective

Words nearby seize

seismometer, seismonasty, seismoscope, seitan, seiu, seize, seize on, seize up, seizin, seizing, seizure

British Dictionary definitions for seize up

seize

/ (siːz) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr foll by on ) to take hold of quickly; grab she seized her hat and ran for the bus

(sometimes foll by on or upon) to grasp mentally, esp rapidly she immediately seized his idea

to take mental possession of alarm seized the crowd

to take possession of rapidly and forcibly the thief seized the woman's purse

to take legal possession of; take into custody

to take by force or capture the army seized the undefended town

to take immediate advantage of to seize an opportunity

nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope) See also serve (def. 19)

(intr often foll by up) (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat

(passive usually foll by of) to be apprised of; conversant with

the usual US spelling of seise

Derived forms of seize

seizable, adjective

Word Origin for seize

C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set 1

Idioms and Phrases with seize up

seize up

Come to a halt, as in The peace talks seized up and were not rescheduled. Originally, from about 1870 on, this term was applied to a machine of some kind that jammed or locked, owing to excessive heat or friction. Its figurative use dates from about 1950.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

seize

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

Origin of seize

SYNONYMS FOR seize

ANTONYMS FOR seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

Words nearby seize

British Dictionary definitions for seize up

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of seize

Word Origin for seize

Idioms and Phrases with seize up

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

seize

verb (used with object), seized, seiz·ing.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

Origin of seize

SYNONYMS FOR seize

ANTONYMS FOR seize

synonym study for seize

OTHER WORDS FROM seize

Words nearby seize

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verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of seize

Word Origin for seize

Idioms and Phrases with seize up

British Dictionary definitions for seize up