greifen

See also: Greifen

German

(transitive) to grab; to grasp; to grip (something)
(transitive) to grab; to seize; to snatch (in an aggressive way)
(intransitive) to reach; to grab
an etwas greifen — “to touch something” (literally, “to grab onto something”)

nach etwas greifen — “to reach for something”

zu etwas greifen — “to reach for something”

in etwas greifen — “to reach into something”
(transitive) to capture (someone)
(transitive, music, chords) to strike
- 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 14:
  Er begab sich ins Klavierzimmer, griff ein paar Akkorde auf dem verstimmten Flügel, verließ aber bald wieder den Raum, [...]
  He went to the piano room, struck a few chords on the out-of-tune grand piano, but soon left the room again, [...]
(intransitive) to take hold; to bite
Trotz des schlechten Wetters griffen die Reifen hervorragend — The tires did bite perfectly despite the bad weather.