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Detain vs Nab - What's the difference?

detain | nab |

In transitive terms the difference between detain and nab

is that detain is to keep back or from; to withhold while nab is to grab or snatch something.

As verbs the difference between detain and nab

is that detain is keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention while nab is to seize, arrest or take into custody a criminal or fugitive.

As a noun nab is

the summit of an eminence.

As an initialism NAB is

National Australia Bank.

detain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
  • To put under custody.
  • To keep back or from; to withhold.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • Detain not the wages of the hireling.

    nab

    English

    Etymology 1

    Verb

    (nabb)
  • To seize, arrest or take into custody a criminal or fugitive
  • To grab or snatch something
  • Synonyms
    * (To arrest a criminal or fugitive) nick, bust
    Derived terms
    * nabber * kidnap

    Etymology 2

    Compare knap, knop, knob.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The summit of an eminence.
  • (Halliwell)
  • The cock of a gunlock.
  • (Knight)
  • (locksmithing) The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot.
  • (Knight)