seize */*/

seize */*/
UK [siːz] / US [sɪz] verb [transitive]
Word forms "seize":
present tense I/you/we/they seize he/she/it seizes present participle seizing past tense seized past participle seized
1)
a) to suddenly and firmly hold someone by a part of their body or clothing

"Listen," he said, seizing my wrist.

seize someone by something:

Before he could run away, she seized him by the collar.

b) to quickly take something in your hand

Hearing a noise, he seized his gun from the drawer.

2) to take something using official power and force

Customs officials have seized 100 kilos of cocaine.

Action was taken to seize criminal assets valued at $200 million.

a) to take control of a place or situation using military force

Eastern towns were seized by the rebels two years ago.

The nation's generals seized power in a coup.

b) to take something or someone away in an illegal and violent way

Robbers tied up security guards and seized the money.

3) to gain control in a situation
seize control:

Their opponents had seized control of the army.

seize the initiative (= make certain that you are able to control a situation):

You must seize the initiative in discussions about salary.

4) mainly literary if a feeling or emotion seizes someone, it suddenly affects them very strongly

A wave of panic seized me.

She was seized by agonizing cramps.

•

seize an opportunity/chance — to act quickly in order to use an opportunity that may not be available later

Phrasal verbs:

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • seize — seize …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • seize — [ sɛz ] adj. numér. inv. et n. m. inv. • 1250; seze XIIe; lat. sedecim, de sex « six » et decem « dix » I ♦ Adj. numér. card. Nombre entier naturel équivalant à dix plus six (16; XVI). 1 ♦ Avec l art. défini, désignant un groupe déterminé de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Seize — Жанр Рок, Electronic, electro industrial, Synthpop Годы С 1997 …   Википедия

  • seize — [siːz] verb [transitive] 1. LAW if the police or another official authority seize goods or property, they take them because they are illegal or because the owner has not paid a debt: • South Korean authorities seized 186,000 fake products in 1999 …   Financial and business terms

  • seize — [ siz ] verb transitive ** 1. ) to take something using official power and force: CONFISCATE: Customs officials have seized 100 pounds of cocaine. Action was taken to seize criminal assets valued at $200 million. a ) to take control of a place or …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • seize — SEIZE. adj. numeral de tout genre. Nombre contenant dix & six. Les seize quartiers de la ville de Paris. nous estions seize à table. il n a pas encore seize ans. On dit aussi, En termes de Blason, Les seize quartiers. Voy QUARTIER. Il se met… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • seize — vt seized, seiz·ing 1 or seise: to put in possession of property or vest with the right of possession or succession stand seized of land 2: to take possession or custody of (property) esp. by lawful authority seize drugs as evidence …   Law dictionary

  • seize — W3 [si:z] v [T] [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: saisir to take possession of , from Medieval Latin sacire] 1.) to take hold of something suddenly and violently = ↑grab ▪ Suddenly he seized my hand. seize sth from sb ▪ Maggie sei …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • seize — [sēz] vt. seized, seizing [ME saisen < OFr saisir < ML sacire, prob. < Frank * sakjan, to lay claim to one s rights < IE base * sāg > SAKE1] 1. a) Historical to put in legal possession of a feudal holding b) to put in legal… …   English World dictionary

  • seize up — To jam, seize, become immovable or stuck • • • Main Entry: ↑seize …   Useful english dictionary

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