/si:z; siz/
v
1 [Tn, Tn.pr]
(a) take hold of (sth), suddenly and violently; grab 抓住, 捉住（某物）; 攫取
*an eagle seizing its prey 捉住猎物的　
* seize hold of sth 抓住某物
* She seized me by the wrist. 她抓住我的手腕.
* He seized the bag and ran off with it. 他把那个包抢跑了.
(b) (of the police, customs, etc) take (stolen goods, illegal drugs, etc) away from sb （指警方、海关等）扣押, 没收（赃物、毒品等）:
20 kilos of heroin were seized yesterday at Heathrow. 昨日在希思罗机场扣押了20公斤的海洛因.
(c) capture (sth); take 夺取（某物）; 占领; 获得
*seize the airport in a surprise attack 突袭而占领机场
* The army has seized power. 军队夺取了政权.
2 [Tn] see (an opportunity, etc) and make use of it eagerly and at once 抓住, 把握（机会等）
*seize the chance to make some money 抓住时机赚一些钱
* Seize any opening you can. 只要有机会就要抓住.
3 [Tn esp passive 尤用于被动语态] (of a strong feeling, desire, etc) affect (sb) suddenly and overwhelmingly （指强烈的感情、愿望等）突然影响或控制（某人）
*Panic seized us. 我们惊恐万状.
* We were seized by a sudden impulse to run. 我们身不由己突然想跑.
4 (phr v) seize on/upon sth recognize sth and exploit it, use it, etc eagerly and at once 意识到某事物而立即加以利用
*She seized on my suggestion and began work immediately. 她采纳了我的建议, 马上干了起来.
* The critics seized on my mistake and said I was ignorant. 批评我的人抓住了我的错误就硬说我一无所知. seize up (of moving machinery) become stuck or jammed because of overheating, etc （指开动着的机器）卡住（因过热等所致）
*Your engine will seize up if you don't put some more oil in. 你再不加些润滑油, 发动机就要卡住了.
* (fig 比喻) My joints seize up in the cold weather. 天气寒冷, 我的关节都冻僵了.

v [T]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: saisir 'to take possession of', from Medieval Latin sacire]
to take hold of something suddenly and violently
= grab
　Suddenly he seized my hand.
seize sth from sb
　Maggie seized the letter from her.
to take control of a place suddenly and quickly, using military force
seize power/control (of sth)
　The rebels have seized power.
　A group of soldiers seized the airport.
if the police or government officers seize something, for example illegal drugs, they take legal possession of it
　160,000 CDs were seized from illegal factories.
　All of my assets were seized , including my home.
to suddenly catch someone and make sure they cannot get away
　The gunmen were seized at 1 a.m.
seize a chance/an opportunity/the initiative
to quickly and eagerly do something when you have the chance to
be seized with/by terror/desire etc
to suddenly be affected by an extremely strong feeling
　When she saw his face, she was seized by fear.
seize on/upon [seize on/upon sth] phr v
to suddenly become very interested in an idea, excuse, what someone says etc
　His every remark is seized upon by the press.
seize upphr v
a) if an engine or part of a machine seizes up, its moving parts stop working and can no longer move, for example because of lack of oil
　The mechanism had seized up.
b) if a part of your body, such as your back, seizes up, you suddenly cannot move it and it is very painful