1. To grasp hastily or eagerly
   "Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone"; "She snatched up the last cookie before anyone else could take it";
   - snatch up, snap
    
2. To make grasping motions
   "the cat snatched at the butterflies"
    
3. [informal] Take by theft
   "He was going to snatch the phone someone had left behind";
   - hook [informal], snitch [informal], thieve, cop [informal], knock off [informal], glom [N. Amer, informal], boost [N. Amer, informal], pilfer, cabbage [archaic, informal], purloin [informal], pinch [Brit, informal], abstract [informal], snarf [N. Amer, informal], swipe [informal], sneak [informal], filch [informal], nobble [Brit, informal], lift [informal], nick [Brit, informal], whip [Brit, informal], blag [Brit, informal]
    
4. Take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
   "The industrialist's son was snatched";
   - kidnap, nobble [Brit, informal], abduct
    
5. Do something quickly due to limited time available
   "He managed to snatch a quick nap between meetings"

1. The act of catching an object with the hands
   "Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away";
   - catch, grab, snap
    
2. A weightlift in which the barbell is lifted overhead in one rapid motion
   "The Olympic athlete executed a flawless snatch, impressing the judges"
    
3. (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
   "The snatch of the CEO's daughter shocked the city";
   - kidnapping, kidnaping [US]
    
4. A small fragment of sound (music or speech)
   "overheard snatches of their conversation";
   - bit
    
5. [vulgar, informal] Obscene term for female genitals
   "The comedian's use of the term 'snatch' shocked some audience members";

Derived forms: snatching, snatches, snatched

See also: grab

Type of: capture, clutch, female genital organ, female genitalia, female genitals, fragment, move, prehend [archaic], rip [N. Amer, informal], rip off [informal], seize, seizure, steal, take hold, take hold of, touch, touching, weightlift, weightlifting

Encyclopedia: Snatch, Tennessee