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"Grasp" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "agarrar", and "seize" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "agarrar". Learn more about the difference between "grasp" and "seize" below.
grasp(
grahsp
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to seize)
a. aprovechar
The secretary grasped the opportunity of the interruption to leave the room.La secretaria aprovechó la oportunidad de la interrupción para salir de la habitación.
a. sujetar
Her aunt was grasping the book as if it would fly away.Su tía sujetaba el libro como si fuera a escaparse volando.
a. captar
The new receptionist quickly grasped what was expected of her.La nueva recepcionista captó rápidamente qué se esperaba de ella.
b. comprender
The government was slow to grasp the significance of these events.El gobierno tardó en comprender la importancia de estos eventos.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (hold)
a. el apretón (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She felt a firm grasp on her arm.Sintió un firme apretón en el brazo.
6. (figurative) (reach)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. el alcance (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
If we can overcome our prejudices, a solution is within our grasp.Si podemos superar nuestros prejuicios, tenemos una solución a nuestro alcance.
a. la comprensión (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Given his age, your young son's grasp of these complicated concepts is impressive.Dada su edad, la comprensión que tiene su hijito de estos conceptos complejos es digna de admiración.
b. el entendimiento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Incredibly enough, my mother has a stronger grasp of computers than I do.Increíblemente, mi madre tiene mejor entendimiento de las computadoras que yo.
8. (figurative) (power)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. las garras (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I wanted to get the child out of that woman's grasp.Quería librar al niño de las garras de esa mujer.
seize(
siz
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to grab)
b. coger (Caribbean) (Panama) (Spain)
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Panama
Regionalism used in Spain
The journalist seized the pen and quickly began to write.La periodista cogió el bolígrafo y empezó a escribir rápidamente.
a. aprovechar
A good businessman seizes an opportunity when he sees one.Un buen empresario aprovecha una oportunidad cuando la ve.
3. (to capture)
a. tomar (power, town, or lands)
The French seized the town in 1295.Los franceses tomaron la ciudad en 1295.
b. hacerse con (power)
He seized power during a military coup.Se hizo con el poder en un golpe militar.
c. apoderarse de (town or lands)
The indigenous population opposed the wealthy landowners who wanted to seize their lands.Los indígenas se opusieron a los terratenientes ricos que querían apoderarse de sus tierras.
a. incautar
All of my assets and property have been seized, including my home.Han incautado todos mis bienes y propiedades, incluida mi casa.
b. incautarse de
The army seized eight kilos of cocaine in Cochabamba.El ejército se incautó de ocho kilos de cocaína en Cochabamba.
c. embargar
The bank has seized the house because the owner has been declared bankrupt.El banco ha embargado la casa porque el dueño se ha declarado en quiebra.
d. secuestrar (publication)
Pirated copies of the movie have been seized by police.La policía ha secuestrado copias pirateadas de la película.
a. apoderarse de
When he saw his wife with another man, he was seized with jealousy.Cuando vio a su esposa con otro hombre, los celos se apoderaron de él.
