grasp
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Related to grasped the nettle: Bichu Buti
grasp
(grăsp)v. grasped, grasp·ing, grasps
v.tr.
1. To take hold of or seize firmly with the hand, the foot, another body part, or an instrument: The elephant grasped the branch with its trunk.
2. To hold with the arms; embrace.
3. To take hold of intellectually; comprehend. See Synonyms at understand.
v.intr.
1. To make a motion of seizing, snatching, or clutching.
2. To show eager and prompt willingness or acceptance: grasps at any opportunity.
n.
Idioms: 1. The act of grasping.
2.
a. A firm hold or grip.
b. An embrace.
3. The ability or power to seize or attain; reach: Victory in the election was within her grasp.
4. Understanding; comprehension: "only a vague intuitive grasp of the meaning of greatness in literature" (Gilbert Highet).
graspat straws
To search in desperation for a solution to a difficulty.
grasp the nettle
To take on a difficult problem directly and energetically.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
grasp
(ɡrɑːsp)vb
1. to grip (something) firmly with or as if with the hands
2. (when: intr, often foll by at) to struggle, snatch, or grope (for)
3. (tr) to understand, esp with effort
n
4. the act of grasping
5. a grip or clasp, as of a hand
6. the capacity to accomplish (esp in the phrase within one's grasp)
7. total rule or possession
8. understanding; comprehension
[C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English græppian to seize, Old Norse grāpa to steal]
ˈgraspable adj
ˈgrasper n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
grasp
(græsp, grɑsp)v.t.
1. to seize and hold by or as if by clasping with the fingers or arms.
2. to seize upon; hold firmly.
3. to comprehend; understand: I don't grasp your meaning.
v.i. 4. to make a motion of seizing: grasped for the gun.
n. 5. the act of grasping.
6. a hold or grip: a firm grasp on a rope.
7. embrace.
8. reach; attainment: to have a thing within one's grasp.
9. hold; possession; control.
10. power to understand.
11. thorough comprehension: a good grasp of computer programming.
[1350–1400; Middle English graspen, grapsen; c. Low German grapsen; akin to Old English gegræppian to seize (see grapple)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
grasp
Past participle: grasped
Gerund: grasping
| Imperative |
|---|
| grasp |
| grasp |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  grasp - understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"discernment, savvy, understanding, apprehension - the cognitive condition of someone who understands; "he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect" sense - a natural appreciation or ability; "a keen musical sense"; "a good sense of timing" |
| 2. | grasp - the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" | |
| 3. | grasp - an intellectual hold or understanding; "a good grip on French history"; "they kept a firm grip on the two top priorities"; "he was in the grip of a powerful emotion"; "a terrible power had her in its grasp" influence - a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job" tentacle - something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold; "caught in the tentacles of organized crime" | |
| 4. |  grasp - the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"choke hold, chokehold - a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind; "he grabbed the woman in a chokehold, demanded her cash and jewelry, and then fled" embrace, embracement, embracing - the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection) prehension, taking hold, grasping, seizing - the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles) wrestling hold - a hold used in the sport of wrestling | |
| Verb | 1. | grasp - hold firmly latch on - take hold of or attach to; "The biochip latches onto the genes" cling, hang - hold on tightly or tenaciously; "hang on to your father's hands"; "The child clung to his mother's apron" clasp - hold firmly and tightly |
| 2. |  grasp - get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?"understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" figure - understand; "He didn't figure her" catch on, cotton on, get it, get onto, get wise, twig, latch on, tumble - understand, usually after some initial difficulty; "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on" intuit - know or grasp by intuition or feeling digest - arrange and integrate in the mind; "I cannot digest all this information" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
grasp
verb
1. grip, hold, catch, grab, seize, snatch, clutch, clinch, clasp, lay or take hold of He grasped both my hands.
2. understand, realize, take in, get, see, follow, catch on, comprehend, get the message about, get the picture about, catch or get the drift of The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis.
noun
2. understanding, knowledge, grip, perception, awareness, realization, mastery, ken, comprehension They have a good grasp of foreign languages.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
grasp
verb1. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on:
2. To perceive directly with the intellect:
Scots: ken.
5. Intellectual hold:
Informal: savvy.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إدراك، فَهْمقبضةقَبْضَه، مَسْكَهيَفْهَميَقْبِضُ عَلَى
uchopitchápáníchopit sepochopitporozumění
gribefattefatteevneforståforståelse
saada ote jostakin
čvrsto držati
gripgrípaskilja, grípaskilningur
しっかりつかむ
붙잡다
nusitvėrimassugniaužimassugriebti
aptvertsaprašanasatverttvēriensuztveres spēja
chápaniechopiť sa
doumetigrabitiprijemprijeti
fatta
คว้า
nắm chặt
grasp
[grɑːsp]A. N
1. (= handclasp) → apretón m
to be within sb's grasp → estar al alcance de la mano de algn
he has a strong grasp → agarra muy fuerte
to lose one's grasp on sth → desasirse de algo
to be within sb's grasp → estar al alcance de la mano de algn
he has a strong grasp → agarra muy fuerte
to lose one's grasp on sth → desasirse de algo
2. (fig) (= power) → garras fpl, control m; (= range) → alcance m; (= understanding) → comprensión f
it's within everyone's grasp → está al alcance de todos
it is beyond my grasp → está fuera de mi alcance
to have a good grasp of sth → dominar algo
it's within everyone's grasp → está al alcance de todos
it is beyond my grasp → está fuera de mi alcance
to have a good grasp of sth → dominar algo
B. VT
1. (= take hold of) → agarrar, asir; (= hold firmly) → sujetar; [+ hand] → estrechar, apretar; [+ weapon etc] → empuñar
2. (fig) [+ chance, opportunity] → aprovechar; [+ power, territory] → apoderarse de
3. (= understand) → comprender, entender
grasp at VI + PREP
2. (fig) [+ hope] → aferrarse a; [+ opportunity] → aprovechar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
grasp
[ˈgrɑːsp] vt
(= understand) → saisir, comprendre
n
(= grip) → poigne f
to slip from sb's grasp (fig) → échapper à qn
to have sth within one's grasp (fig) → avoir qch à sa portée
to be within sb's grasp (= be attainable) → être à la portée de qn
to be beyond sb's grasp (= be unattainable) → ne pas être à la portée de qn
to slip from sb's grasp (fig) → échapper à qn
to have sth within one's grasp (fig) → avoir qch à sa portée
to be within sb's grasp (= be attainable) → être à la portée de qn
to be beyond sb's grasp (= be unattainable) → ne pas être à la portée de qn
(= knowledge) → connaissance f
grasp at
vt fus (fig) [+ opportunity] → sauter sur
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
grasp
n
(= hold) → Griff m; he held my arm firmly in his grasp → er hielt meinen Arm mit festem Griff; the knife slipped from her grasp → das Messer rutschte ihr aus der Hand; just when peace/fame was within their grasp → gerade als Frieden/Ruhm greifbar nahe war or in greifbare Nähe gerückt war
(fig: = understanding) → Verständnis nt; to have a good grasp of something → etw gut beherrschen; her grasp of the language/subject is not very good → sie beherrscht die Sprache/das Gebiet nicht sehr gut; it is beyond his grasp → das geht über seinen Verstand; it’s within his grasp → das kann er verstehen or begreifen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
grasp
[grɑːsp]1. n (grip) → presa
to lose one's grasp on reality (fig) → perdere contatto con la realtà
to have sth within one's grasp → avere qc a portata di mano
it is within everybody's grasp (fig) → è alla portata di tutti
it is beyond my grasp → non ci arrivo
to have a good grasp of (subject) → avere una buona padronanza di
he has a good grasp of the difficulties → si rende perfettamente conto dei problemi
to lose one's grasp on reality (fig) → perdere contatto con la realtà
to have sth within one's grasp → avere qc a portata di mano
it is within everybody's grasp (fig) → è alla portata di tutti
it is beyond my grasp → non ci arrivo
to have a good grasp of (subject) → avere una buona padronanza di
he has a good grasp of the difficulties → si rende perfettamente conto dei problemi
2. vt
a. (take hold of) → afferrare; (hold firmly) → stringere (fig) (chance, opportunity) → cogliere (al volo)
b. (understand, meaning, hint) → afferrare
grasp at vi + prep (rope) → afferrarsi a, aggrapparsi a (fig) (opportunity) → non farsi sfuggire, approfittare di
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
grasp
(graːsp) verb1. to take hold of especially by putting one's fingers or arm(s) round. He grasped the rope; He grasped the opportunity to ask for a higher salary.
2. to understand. I can't grasp what he's getting at.
noun1. a grip with one's hand etc. Have you got a good grasp on that rope?
2. the ability to understand. His ideas are quite beyond my grasp.
ˈgrasping adjective greedy (especially for money). a grasping old man.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
grasp
→ يَقْبِضُ عَلَى uchopit fatte festhalten γραπώνω agarrar saada ote jostakin saisir čvrsto držati afferrare しっかりつかむ 붙잡다 grijpen fatte chwycić agarrar схватить fatta คว้า kavramak nắm chặt 抓住Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
grasp
vt agarrarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.