seized

American  

[seezd] / sizd /

adjective

1. taken hold, possession, or control of, as by force or legal authority; confiscated, captured, or appropriated.

   Police say the seized property includes knives, computer equipment, a balaclava, and military clothing.

   Settlers were observed planting olive trees on illegally seized land.

2. (of an opportunity) taken advantage of promptly.

   Everything that Mom and I had accomplished was rooted firmly in the soil of hard work and seized opportunities.

3. (of moving parts) locked or jammed, as from excessive friction (often followed byup ).

   I gladly pay top dollar for lubricants and fluids, because I know it's far more expensive to have to rebuild a seized engine!

4. having ceased to function; having come to a halt (often followed byup ).

   Businesses need to access credit lines to function, but now the credit market is totally seized up.

5. fully understood; mentally grasped.

   People who need cognitive closure will absorb a statement early in the process of acquiring knowledge, "freeze" on that seized idea, and resist further information.

6. (of melted chocolate) grainy and clumpy from overheating or from contact with a small amount of moisture.

   To reverse the reaction, add more liquid, but just enough to dissolve most of the sugar and cocoa particles in the seized chocolate clumps.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of seize.

Other Word Forms

• unseized adjective

Etymology

Origin of seized

seize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The three tankers were seized on the same day India and the U.S. issued an official statement announcing the deal.

From The Wall Street Journal

The tanker was seized by French forces in the Mediterranean in January and then diverted to the port city of Marseille.

From BBC

Investigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.

From Barron's

Japanese and Chinese coast guard ships have confronted one another near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, while last week Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing vessel.

From BBC

Guanipa was released on 8 February after eight months in jail, only to be seized again hours later for allegedly breaking the conditions of his release.

From BBC

Related Words

• captured