grasp1 verbgrasp2 noun
graspgrasp1 /ɡrɑːsp $ ɡræsp/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
VERB TABLE
grasp
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | grasp |
| he, she, it | grasps | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | grasped |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have grasped |
| he, she, it | has grasped | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had grasped |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will grasp |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have grasped |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am grasping |
| he, she, it | is grasping | |
| you, we, they | are grasping | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was grasping |
| you, we, they | were grasping | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been grasping |
| he, she, it | has been grasping | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been grasping |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be grasping |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been grasping |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Fame has come suddenly, and Peyton is finding it hard to grasp.
- Obviously, she had barely grasped the subject.
- Science lessons should be taught in a way that makes the material easier to grasp.
- Taylor manages to explain technical ideas in a way that non-specialists can grasp.
- The army had failed to grasp that their mission was to protect the navy's ships, not vice versa.
- The handgrips should be shaped so that children can grasp them firmly.
- The right balance of detail should help the reader quickly grasp the nature of the problem and your approach to it.
- The toothed whales have a set of teeth which they use to grasp large and quick-moving prey, mainly squid or fish.
- They grasp at each other with numbed fingers for the comfort of touch.
- This was separated from the other digits, giving their owners the ability to grasp and manipulate objects.
- Though I have no trouble grasping its concepts, math continues to be difficult for me.
- Wexford grasped it in both his hands, raised it high and brought it down hard to meet the empty air.
- What is so sad is that through all the tinsel shines a reality, but we can not seem to grasp it.
THESAURUS
to have something in your hand, hands, or arms: · Maria came in holding a letter.· Can I hold the baby?
to hold something very tightly and not let it go: · He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away.· Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it: · A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase.· The little girl clutched onto his hand.
written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them: · She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers.· He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
to take something in your hand or hands and hold it: · I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.· Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way: · She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · He grabbed my bag and ran off with it.· The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself: · He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike.· Hang on tight!
to continue to hold something: · Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog.· She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
to understand something difficult to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: · Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp.· I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.
formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: · She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.
to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: · People are still trying to make sense of the news.
spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: · I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.
Longman Language Activatorto start holding something also get a hold of to take something and hold it in your hand: · I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could.· Sheila fished in her handbag until she got hold of her keys.· The baby got a hold of her beads and broke the string.
to quickly and roughly take something and hold it: · Brown grabbed the phone and started shouting.· She turned to him and grabbed his arm so hard it surprised him.grab hold of something: · The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd.grab something from somebody: · According to the report, Mason grabbed the gun from a friend.
also grasp for to take something in your hand, especially when it is very difficult to do this: · I clutched at my mother's arm to keep from falling.· The climber grasped at a small hold just above him.
to understand a situation, idea, or what someone is telling you · She spoke slowly and clearly so that everyone could understand.· I didn't understand the teacher's instructions.· When he's old enough to understand, we'll tell him he's adopted.understand what/why/how etc · Ben asked a few questions to make sure he understood what to do.· You don't need to understand how a computer works to use it.understand that · The witness said he understood that he was swearing to give true and correct information.easy/difficult to understand · Computer manuals should be written in a way that is easy to understand.understand perfectly (=understand completely) · Don't worry. I understand perfectly.fully understand (=understand completely) · Doctors still do not fully understand the process by which the disease is transmitted.
to understand what someone is telling you, especially if they have not expressed it very clearly: · I don't think your audience is going to know what you mean by this.you know what I mean? (=say this to check that someone understands you): · He seems really sad, you know what I mean?I know what you mean (=say this to show that you understand): · "It's a thing you hold pieces of wood in when you're doing woodwork." "Oh, I know what you mean -- a vice."
especially spoken to understand the truth about a situation, or understand the reasons for something: see what somebody means: · Try it for yourself, and you'll see what I mean.see why/how/what etc: · I can see why people don't like him.I see (=say this when you understand what someone has told you): · "It goes in the red box, here." "Oh, I see."you see (=say this when you are explaining something): · Well, you see, he's not really ready to read a book this difficult.see (that): · Well, I can see that the logic is somehow wrong, but I don't know why exactly.see any reason: · Can you see any reason why it shouldn't work?see the point (=understand why something is important): · At fourteen, he couldn't see the point of staying in school.see somebody's point (=understand the main idea or importance of what someone is saying): · I didn't like his attitude, but I could see his point.see the joke British (=understand why something is funny): · He's just one of those people who never seem to see the joke.
spoken to understand what someone says, what is happening, or why or how something happens: get it: · "Do you understand?" "Yeah, we've got it," one of the drivers replied.· Barbara Howell and her husband, Kenneth (Barbie and Ken, get it?) run a bed-and-breakfast inn.I don't get it: · Why did you turn down such a fantastic job? I don't get it.get a/the joke (=understand why something is funny): · John told me one of his stupid jokes, and it took me about five minutes to get it.get the point (=understand the main idea or importance of something): · I don't think you get the point. Legally, you must give us this information.get the idea: · The students should get the idea that this is a complex issue, with no easy answers.get what/why/how etc: · I just couldn't get what he meant.
formal to understand something that is complicated or difficult to understand: · Take the time to read, comprehend, and evaluate the report.· God cannot truly be seen or comprehended by the human mind.fully comprehend (=understand something completely): · The significance of the disappearance of the buffalo and the passenger pigeon was not fully comprehended until much later.
to fully understand a fact or an idea, especially one that it is important or difficult to understand: · Obviously, she had barely grasped the subject.· Science lessons should be taught in a way that makes the material easier to grasp.hard to grasp: · Fame has come suddenly, and Peyton is finding it hard to grasp.grasp that: · The army had failed to grasp that their mission was to protect the navy's ships, not vice versa.
to understand something that is not clear or easy to understand, especially by spending time thinking about it: · Police are trying to make sense of a bizarre note left by the murderer.· There is so much information that it is difficult to make sense of it all.
informal to understand what someone is telling you or what they want you to do, especially after they have told you several times: · Even the Democrats got the message: voters are concerned about taxes.get the message that: · He doesn't seem to get the message that he's not welcome here.
spoken to understand a situation or arrangement, especially one that someone is explaining to you: · I get the picture. You want me to say you were at my house last night.· We don't want any trouble tonight. Do you get the picture?
British informal to understand something that is difficult or complicated: · I just couldn't get my head round geometry at school.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Cally slipped from his grasp and fled.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=understand it)· Children often grasp new concepts more quickly than adults.
(=take and hold something firmly)· He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.
(=understand what they are)· The government has been slow to grasp the implications of the current teacher shortage.
(=begin to understand the meaning)· She suddenly grasped the meaning of his frantic gestures.
(=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.
(=their understanding of reality)· They portrayed her as a sick woman with only a tenuous grasp of reality.
· The press was slow to grasp the significance of what had happened.
Cally slipped from his grasp and fled.· I don't know if the general public has fully grasped just how undemocratic the present Labour leadership election rules are.· Furthermore neither side fully grasped the priorities, the political problems and the policy-making processes of the other.
· Horses are not stupid and will soon grasp how to avoid hard graft!· I had just come to grasp how physical scientists understand the Universe in terms of certain quantities which are always rigorously conserved.· I don't think you've grasped how retro he is.· But even the ingenious Dom Pérignon failed to grasp how close he was to radically improving sparkling wine production.· No matter how much these technologists know about genes, they have never grasped how an entire organism functions.
· There are formal operational thinkers - those who immediately grasp the abstract form of the problem and solve it quickly and easily.
· He had also quickly grasped that the islanders would do nothing to endanger the safety of Sycorax.· The right balance of detail should help the reader quickly grasp the nature of the problem and your approach to it.· Seth and his followers quickly grasped their opportunity and immediately closed the lid and fastened it securely.· Reyes Heroles is well-respected for his ability to quickly grasp complex issues.· What seems like a small problem to you and me quickly grasps the attention of all the young people in the room.
· The tabloids couldn't quite grasp what they had here.· I haven't quite grasped what the acquisitions policy is here.· Howard is still a little jealous of his authority, hasn't yet quite grasped the new set-up since my Ministry was established.
NOUN· But as his hand grasped her arm, she recognised defeat, and, halting, she swung around.· When I stop midway, he grasps my hand or arm and pushes it toward his feet.· I sit beside her mum, who grasps my arm with both hands, like a drowning woman.· She drained her glass, refilled it and grasped the arm of the chair.· Strong hands grasped Isabel's arms.· She felt a firm grasp on her arm and a second later she was on Chalon's back.· Taking a deep breath, he grasped Mait's arm, and pulled him away from the enhancer.· Free to scramble away, instead she went up to him and grasped his arm.
· Vibrancy as entertainment was a new concept for Lucien to grasp.
· When will the Opposition grasp that simple fact?· His sources do not help him grasp the inconvenient fact that many young men actually enjoy warfare.
· I released her hand and grasped her firmly by the buttocks, small but ripe.· Betty was the Blue Girl, with a hawk-wing swoop of black hat, forbidding gaze, hands grasping the white chair.· He stood in the doorway holding the thirty-eight in his right hand, with his left hand grasping his right wrist.· But as his hand grasped her arm, she recognised defeat, and, halting, she swung around.· Each time he stretched out his hand to grasp them the wind tossed them high away out of reach.· Then his hands grasped her shoulders.· How do you command your hand to grasp a cup?
· He grasped the shaky handle of the office door, and cursed.· You grasp the handle, and can feel the coolness of it in your hand.· She crossed the room in a few quick strides, grasped the handle of the door set in the wall and pulled.· You open the lid by grasping a handle shaped like a burned match.· With one hand he grasped the string handle of the carrier-bag with the Union Jack on it.· You reach out and grasp the handle.· She grasped the heavy iron handle and turned it cautiously.· He grasped the handle of the door in one hand, and that of the spoon in the other.
· Friction between the generations is exacerbated when younger staff grasp the new idea and their creativity is suddenly released.· Once we really grasp its idea, then we are ready to begin our journey.· The reader who has grasped these ideas has the root of the matter in him.· Before the managers could begin to understand what providing leadership meant, they had to grasp these fundamental ideas.· Read through the suggestions, grasp the ideas, and learn.
· He said nothing and waited for Tolby to grasp the implications.· Ministers have generally failed to grasp the implications of Mrs Thatcher's conversion to the cause of the environment.· My thoughts went round and round in circles, as I tried to grasp all the implications at once.
· The concentration on detail and the speaker's reaction might prevent you from grasping the speaker's meaning anyway.
· Mellor grasped the nettle and told how he felt like Daniel in the lion's den.· Then it may be able to grasp the nettles of boundaries and ethos and see them as secondary.· The community has also grasped the nettle of the unemployment argument for development.· Since impacts are the product of population numbers and consumption, all nations should grasp the nettle of eventual zero population growth.· Mr. Thornton and Mr. Taylor grasped that nettle.· A new field of activity seemed to be opening up for him if only he had the courage to grasp the nettle.· Mrs Bottomley later dismissed suggestions that she had failed to grasp the nettle.· When the right hon. Gentleman came to that office, he had the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
· Isabel had grasped the opportunity of his presence to escape from Gloucester.· Perhaps only Chandos boss Brian Couzens would grasp an opportunity like that.· One person will grasp an opportunity with enthusiasm, whereas another will recoil from the same chance with anxiety and fear.· Seth and his followers quickly grasped their opportunity and immediately closed the lid and fastened it securely.· The Prime Minister failed to grasp that opportunity.· Many labour-only subcontractors have grasped the opportunity to expand initially to a labour and material sub-contractor and subsequently to a general contractor.· Should not the Government grasp that opportunity?
· Once again, no party except ours seems to have grasped this simple point or made any proposal to act on it.· You have to grasp a major point.· After the lectures and discussions she would spend extra time ensuring anyone with language difficulties had grasped the important points.· I don't think Stuart at all grasped the point I was making.· The interplay of these terms is not always easy to grasp, but the point of positing them is comparatively clear.· The Labour Party utterly failed to grasp the point, let alone the enormity, of what the Government had done.· If only the women could grasp my points of view.
· But, try as I might, I just couldn't grasp the principle.· Even Ellet failed to grasp this principle.· It is essential that this group of patients grasp the essential dietary principles at the outset.· From what we hear, not everybody has entirely grasped the principle of the Prime Minister's reform.· Their alchemists were experimenting with gunpowder, their engineers had grasped the basic principles of steam propulsion.
· Then his hands grasped her shoulders.· Benjamin hastened over and grasped the woman's shoulder.· The minder's hand grasped the photographer's shoulder.· Loretta put down her book, grasped him by the shoulders, and heaved him back into the arms of his tormentors.
· The expert's advantage is in his easy access to the evidence and in his better ability to grasp its significance.· Burty grasped the significance of the photographic Nemesis.
· But sometimes you grasp at straws.· For now, researchers admit that they are still grasping at straws.
· Cranston, full of wine and his own theories, was now certain they had grasped the truth.· There have been times in our history when we grasped this obvious truth more surely.· Loyalty-obsessed companies have grasped two important managerial truths.· In the end we will grasp the truth.· The music press scrambled around, at times rather pathetically, to grasp hold of the truth.· It is a attempt to grasp the higher spiritual truth.
· A hand shot out and grasped her wrist.· He stood in the doorway holding the thirty-eight in his right hand, with his left hand grasping his right wrist.· They had grasped her by the wrists and feet and dragged her to the neighbouring room.· Suddenly he leaned forward across the table and grasped my wrist.
VERB· Conservation thinking has begun to grasp a few of the same nettles.
· The Opposition have totally failed to grasp the banding concept.· After 20 years of coaching, did Donahue fail to grasp what he and some 50 million were witnessing?· Sadly, it seems that he has failed to grasp the relationship between the district council and the board.· Even Ellet failed to grasp this principle.· They fail to grasp that what is required is their own detailed response to what is before them.· There are those deep into their careers who still fail to grasp this concept.· Ministers have generally failed to grasp the implications of Mrs Thatcher's conversion to the cause of the environment.· Why is it that we in this great nation consistently fail to grasp the deep-seated social and economic problems that plague us?
· Diving animals need some grasp of the difference between solids and fluids, as well as of depth, movement, and distance.· But the difference needs to be grasped before I can venture an opinion usefully upon that.· What we need to grasp is that the scientist is a member of the public.
· In a sense he reaches out and grasps it.· If it frightened him, he habitually reached out and grasped it.· Then he reached out, grasped Mandy's outstretched hand and pulled her back to safe, solid ground.· You reach out and grasp the handle.· He fought his way upwards, fingernails tearing at the ornate carvings, hands reaching to grasp the top.· She felt his hands reach beneath her and grasp her gorgeous ripe melons.
· Once again, no party except ours seems to have grasped this simple point or made any proposal to act on it.· Yet the Marana council members are so unsophisticated they seem unable to grasp the full impact of their actions.· Then she seemed to grasp what they were saying.· Nor did he seem to grasp the peril that he was in.· Only Ken Wilson seemed to have grasped the essentials of public argument.· What is so sad is that through all the tinsel shines a reality, but we can not seem to grasp it.· He didn't seem to grasp that we can hardly bury a head without a body.· On the horizon is a field of view overgrown with nettles, which no one seems to want to grasp.
· He reached out wildly, trying to grasp the creature, but it had moved away.· I try to grasp his leg, but it is hard to hold on.· He was trying to grasp the events going on around him.· He tried to grasp what he had been rehearsing but he seemed to have lost it.· She was trying to grasp the radically changed situation with which she must come to terms.· It looked as if Doyle was trying to grasp the sheet.· My thoughts went round and round in circles, as I tried to grasp all the implications at once.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to take and hold something firmly SYN grip: - One person will grasp an opportunity with enthusiasm, whereas another will recoil from the same chance with anxiety and fear.
- Perhaps only Chandos boss Brian Couzens would grasp an opportunity like that.
- A new field of activity seemed to be opening up for him if only he had the courage to grasp the nettle.
- Down in Alcester they have grasped the nettle.
- Mellor grasped the nettle and told how he felt like Daniel in the lion's den.
- Mrs Bottomley later dismissed suggestions that she had failed to grasp the nettle.
- Since impacts are the product of population numbers and consumption, all nations should grasp the nettle of eventual zero population growth.
- The community has also grasped the nettle of the unemployment argument for development.
- Then it may be able to grasp the nettles of boundaries and ethos and see them as secondary.
- When the right hon. Gentleman came to that office, he had the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform.
- As darkness gains a firmer grip the songbirds fade and the owls start.
- As soon as one does so, its lips close around it, giving it a firm hold.
- But at current levels the shares are a firm hold.
- Choose a firm hold variant which will keep your style in place during winder weather and light drizzle.
- Clumps of sturdy weed grew wherever they could take a firm hold.
- I keep a firm grip on my hat and stare into the blustery abyss.
- It's safe but you need to have a firm grip to cut a 13-amp flex.
- Usually this happens because the task is too broadly stated to get a firm grasp on it.
- Green ponds should not be a problem now, but come next summer, you may be clutching at straws.
I grasped his arm firmly and led him away. Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.► see thesaurus at hold2[not in progressive] to completely understand a fact or an idea, especially a complicated one: At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened. Some people find the idea of relativity difficult to grasp.grasp what/how etc A short opening paragraph enables the reader to quickly grasp what the article is about.grasp that Nick had grasped that something was wrong.► see thesaurus at understand3 grasp an opportunity to eagerly and quickly use an opportunity to do something: She is ready to grasp any opportunity to expand the business.4grasp the nettle British English to deal with an unpleasant situation firmly and without delay: We need to grasp the nettle of prison reform.grasp at something phrasal verb to try to hold on to something: His foot slipped and he grasped at the top of the wall.grasp1 verbgrasp2 noun
graspgrasp2 ●○○ noun [singular] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Cordell had an impressive grasp of military issues.
- Helen tightened her grasp on my collar and shouted ""Don't fool around with me, Mickey!''
- Recent moves have weakened his grasp on power.
- She tried to escape Moore's grasp but he was too strong for her.
- Some of the historical nuances are beyond the grasp of most children.
- Take a firm grasp on the rope.
- But such a brash grasp for the moral high ground called for an answer.
- Can one doubt that such a tale is one of a tightening grasp of an actual reality?
- He had Hannele in mind and, he hoped, almost in his grasp.
- He now had Joe the Fish in his grasp, as he had sworn to himself that he would.
- He recognised him at once as Fouchard returned, trophy firmly in his grasp.
- His technique shows a masterful grasp of the conventions of the philosophic dialogue perfected by Plato.
- She seized the handle, but the impetus was too great, and it was wrenched from her convulsive grasp.
- Would anyone with a reasonable grasp on sanity even attempt something like this?
THESAURUS
the facts and information that you have learned, and the understanding you have gained: · Our knowledge of other cultures and societies has improved.· scientific knowledge
special knowledge about how to do something, that you get through experience, training, or study: · The technical expertise was provided by a Japanese company.· They need people with medical expertise.
practical knowledge about how to do something: · Business leaders often lack the local know-how to tackle problems in specific countries.· financial know-how
good sense and judgment, based on knowledge and experience: · the wisdom of the older family members· It’s a matter of common wisdom that newspapers cannot be trusted.
how much you know about a situation or subject, and how well you understand it: · He’s been praised for his grasp of the country’s economic problems.· She has a good grasp of the language.
Longman Language Activatorthe way that someone holds something the way in which someone is holding something: somebody's hold on something: · I tightened my hold on the child as we crossed the busy road.tighten/loosen/relax your hold (on): · My mother relaxed, and loosened her hold on my hand.keep/have hold of: · Prevost asked me if I still had hold of my camera.· In this form of wrestling there are a number of different holds, each used in a different situation.
the way you hold something tightly: · The policeman had a firm grip on my arm.· To play this shot, you need to change your grip on the racquet slightly.lose your grip (=be unable to hold something any longer): · I lost my grip on the branch, and fell out of the tree.tighten your grip (=grip something more tightly): · She looked anxious and tightened her grip on her shoulder bag.
the way you hold something tightly, especially a part of someone's body, in order to keep them close to you: · She tried to escape Moore's grasp but he was too strong for her.tighten your grasp (=grasp something more tightly): · Helen tightened her grasp on my collar and shouted "Don't fool around with me, Mickey!''
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Cally slipped from his grasp and fled.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system. (=understand it)· Children often grasp new concepts more quickly than adults.
(=take and hold something firmly)· He felt Connor’s hand grasp his shoulder.
(=understand what they are)· The government has been slow to grasp the implications of the current teacher shortage.
(=begin to understand the meaning)· She suddenly grasped the meaning of his frantic gestures.
(=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.
(=their understanding of reality)· They portrayed her as a sick woman with only a tenuous grasp of reality.
· The press was slow to grasp the significance of what had happened.
Cally slipped from his grasp and fled.· It remained his belief, though, that a firm grasp of wider realities would serve him well.· Usually this happens because the task is too broadly stated to get a firm grasp on it.· She handled Gilbert with a firm, no-nonsense grasp.
· Some cathedral organists have developed considerable liturgical flair and some have a good grasp of theology.· She has the best grasp of the staggering task.· Although some students have a good grasp of colloquial language, few have ever got to grips with the concept of register.· Thus by the age of five years, children have a good grasp of the concept of intention.· In most cases, therefore, what is required is a good general grasp of the topic.
VERB· His technique shows a masterful grasp of the conventions of the philosophic dialogue perfected by Plato.
· In Hampshire alone Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth all slipped from their grasp.· Every solid fact slipped out of Blanche's grasp as soon as she believed she grasped it.· While she was doing this, the child slipped from her grasp, and fell into the river where it was drowned.· The government does not want them to slip beyond its grasp.· He felt that things were loosening and slipping from his grasp.· Although nominally in charge, control was slipping from his grasp.· Long ago, he now realised, Nicholas had slipped from his grasp.· The shot slipped from his grasp and nearly flattened the Head's wife.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1the way you hold something or your ability to hold it SYN grip: - As darkness gains a firmer grip the songbirds fade and the owls start.
- As soon as one does so, its lips close around it, giving it a firm hold.
- But at current levels the shares are a firm hold.
- Choose a firm hold variant which will keep your style in place during winder weather and light drizzle.
- Clumps of sturdy weed grew wherever they could take a firm hold.
- I keep a firm grip on my hat and stare into the blustery abyss.
- It's safe but you need to have a firm grip to cut a 13-amp flex.
- Usually this happens because the task is too broadly stated to get a firm grasp on it.
- Green ponds should not be a problem now, but come next summer, you may be clutching at straws.
Luke took her arm in a firm grasp and led her through the gate. He had allowed the ball to slip from his grasp.► see thesaurus at knowledge2your ability to understand a complicated idea, situation, or subject SYN understandinggrasp of Her grasp of the issues was impressive.a good/firm/thorough etc grasp of something Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system.grasp on After two months, his grasp on the subject was improving.3your ability to achieve or gain somethingwithin somebody’s grasp An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.beyond somebody’s grasp Many families are finding suitable housing beyond their grasp.4literary control or power: The king was determined not to let Scotland slip from his grasp.