glom

[ glom ]

verb (used with object)

, glommed, glom·ming.

1. to steal.
2. to catch or grab.
3. to look at.

noun

1. a look or glimpse.

verb phrase

1. to take hold or possession of:

   He wanted to glom onto some of that money.

glom

/ ɡlɒm /

verb

1. trfoll byon to to attach oneself to or associate oneself with
2. to acquire, esp without paying

Word History and Origins

Origin of glom¹

1895–1900, Americanism; compare Scots glaum, glam to snatch at, glammis jaws of a vise, apparently < Scots Gaelic glàm to grab, clutch, influenced by clam ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of glom¹

C20: from Scots glaum

Example Sentences

Soon after the memes started making the rounds on Sunday, other politicians glommed on.

From Los Angeles Times

Domestic terrorists are generally people — mostly men — who are lost souls that glom onto half-baked political rationalizations.

From Salon

Using mouse antibodies that glom on to proteasomes, and other methods, the investigators found the proteasomes on the surface of neurons in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, sciatic nerve and peripheral nerves innervating skin.

From Science Daily

But the latest generation has definitely glommed onto and revived some of the most deplorable, if I may use that word, beliefs from the past.

From Salon

These are people who have been shut out of power through their own failures, and try to glom onto it by becoming Trump's lackeys.

From Salon

Related Words

• capture
• catch
• clutch
• grasp
• grip
• seize
• snag
• snatch
• take