Seize | Mean of seize in English Dictionary

/ˈsiːz/

• Verb
• to use legal or official power to take (something)
1. Police seized [=confiscated] the weapons and drugs.
2. The bank seized their property.
• to get or take (something) in a forceful, sudden, or violent way
1. The army has seized control of the city.
2. A rebel group attempted to seize power.
3. He suddenly seized the lead in the final lap of the race.
• to attack and take control of (a place) by force or violence
1. The soldiers seized [=captured] the fort.

• to forcefully take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms
1. He seized her by the arm.
2. He tried to seize the gun from him.
3. She seized hold of my hand. [=she seized my hand]
• to take (someone) as a prisoner
1. The police seized [=arrested] the robbers.
2. Seize that man!
3. She was seized by kidnappers and carried off to a hidden location.
• to take or use (something, such as a chance or opportunity) in a quick and eager way
1. He seized the chance/initiative/opportunity to present his ideas to his boss.
2. My father taught me to seize the day. [=to do the things I want to do when I have the chance instead of waiting for a later time]
3. Seizing the moment, she introduced herself to the famous film director.
• to begin to affect (someone) suddenly
1. Panic seized him. = He was seized by panic.
• to have a powerful effect on (someone)
1. His movies seized the public's imagination. [=the public became very interested in and enthusiastic about his movies]
2. She was suddenly seized with the idea [=she suddenly had the idea] of owning her own restaurant.
• to stop working because the moving parts can no longer move
1. The engine/brakes suddenly seized up.
2. Her brain seized up when she tried to answer the question.