Trends of
grasp

View usage for:

grasp

(grɑːsp, græsp)

Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense grasps, present participle grasping, past tense, past participle grasped

1. verb

If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly.

He grasped both my hands. [VERB noun]

She was trying to grasp at something. [VERB + at]

Synonyms: grip, hold, catch, grab More Synonyms of grasp

2. See also grasping

3. singular noun

A grasp is a very firm hold or grip.

His hand was taken in a warm, firm grasp.

4. singular noun [with poss, oft in/from N]

If you say that something is in someone's grasp, you disapprove of the fact that they possess or control it. If something slips from your grasp, you lose it or lose control of it.

The people in your grasp are not guests, they are hostages.

She allowed victory to slip from her grasp.

...the task of liberating a number of states from the grasp of tyrants.

5. verb

If you grasp something that is complicated or difficult to understand, you understand it.

The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis. [VERB noun]

He instantly grasped that Stephen was talking about his wife. [VERB that]

Synonyms: understand, realize, take in, get More Synonyms of grasp

6. singular noun

A grasp of something is an understanding of it.

They have a good grasp of foreign languages. [+ of]

Synonyms: understanding, knowledge, grip, perception More Synonyms of grasp

See within someone's grasp

More Synonyms of grasp

grasp in British English

(ɡrɑːsp)

verb

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. (transitive)

to understand, esp with effort

noun

the act of grasping

a grip or clasp, as of a hand

the capacity to accomplish (esp in the phrase within one's grasp)

total rule or possession

understanding; comprehension

Derived forms

graspable (ˈgraspable)

adjective

grasper (ˈgrasper)

noun

Word origin

C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English græppian to seize, Old Norse grāpa to steal

grasp in American English

(græsp; grɑsp)

verb transitive

to take hold of firmly with or as with the hand or arms; grip

to take hold of eagerly or greedily; seize

to take hold of mentally; understand; comprehend

verb intransitive

to reach for and try to seize

with at

to accept eagerly

with at

noun

the act of grasping; grip or clasp of the hand or arms

a firm hold; control; possession

the power to hold or seize; reach

power of understanding; comprehension

SIMILAR WORDS: take

Derived forms

graspable (ˈgraspable)

adjective

grasper (ˈgrasper)

noun

Word origin

ME graspen, by metathesis < *grapsen, prob. < MLowG (as in LowG, Fris grapsen), akin to Norw dial. grapsa, to scratch, ON grapa, to snatch: see grab

More idioms containing
grasp

grasp the nettle

Examples of 'grasp' in a sentence
grasp

Such a firm grasp on the essential facts.They had also failed to grasp public unease about the growing pressure on jobs and public services.Men with a good grasp of their problems tend not to resign.Perhaps you have to be a journalist to properly grasp how impressive this access was.Yet colleagues were impressed by his grasp of detail and seeming lack of personal ambition.He grasped my hand with a grip like steel.You can grasp hold of the threads.You have a shrewd grasp of cash facts plus a knack of asking the right questions.Now is the time to grasp firmly the reins of your own destiny.Hosts should have a firm grasp of who the extra people are.

In other languages
grasp

British English: grasp /ɡrɑːsp/ VERB

If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly.

He grasped both my hands.

American English: grasp
Arabic: يَقْبِضُ عَلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: agarrar
Chinese: 抓住
Croatian: čvrsto držati
Czech: uchopit
Danish: fatte
Dutch: grijpen
European Spanish: agarrar
Finnish: saada ote jostakin
French: saisir
German: festhalten
Greek: γραπώνω
Italian: afferrare
Japanese: しっかりつかむ
Korean: 붙잡다
Norwegian: fatte
Polish: chwycić
European Portuguese: agarrar
Romanian: a apuca
Russian: схватить
Latin American Spanish: agarrar con la mano
Swedish: fatta
Thai: คว้า
Turkish: kavramak
Ukrainian: хапати
Vietnamese: nắm chặt

Chinese translation of 'grasp'

grasp

(ɡrɑːsp)

vt

(= hold, seize) 抓住 (zhuāzhù)
(= understand) 理解 (lǐjiě)

n (s)

(= grip) 紧(緊)握 (jǐnwò)
(= understanding) 理解力 (lǐjiělì)
to slip from sb's grasp 从(從)某人手中溜掉 (cóng mǒurén shǒu zhōng liūdiào)
within/beyond sb's grasp 为(為)某人力所能及/力所不及 (wéi mǒurén lì suǒ néng jí/lì suǒ bù jí)
to grasp at ... [rope, handle] 向 ... 抓去 (xiàng ... zhuāqù)

1 (verb) in the sense of grip

Definition

to grip firmly

He grasped both my hands.

Synonyms

grip

She gripped his hand tightly.

hold

Hold the baby while I load the car.

catch

He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his.

grab

I managed to grab her hand.

seize

an otter seizing a fish

snatch

He snatched the telephone from me.

clutch

She was clutching a photograph in her hand.

clinch

clasp

Mary clasped the children to her desperately.

lay or take hold of

2 (verb) in the sense of understand

Definition

to understand

The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis.

Synonyms

understand

I think you understand my meaning.

realize

As soon as we realized what was going on, we moved the children away.

take in

get

You don't seem to get the point.

see

Oh, I see what you're saying.

Can you follow the plot so far?

catch on (informal)

He tried to explain it to me, but it took me a while to catch on.

comprehend

I just cannot comprehend your attitude.

get the message about

get the picture about

catch or get the drift of

1 (noun) in the sense of grip

Definition

a very firm grip

I slipped my hand from his grasp.

Synonyms

grip

I eased the bag from her grip.

hold

He released his hold on the camera.

possession

These documents are now in the possession of the authorities.

embrace

We were locked in a loving embrace.

clutches

clasp

He gripped my hand in a strong clasp.

2 (noun) in the sense of understanding

Definition

understanding or comprehension

They have a good grasp of foreign languages.

Synonyms

understanding

They have to have a basic understanding of computers.

knowledge

the quest for scientific knowledge

grip

He has lost his grip on reality.

perception

her perception of the feeling was strong

awareness

realization

There is a growing realization that things cannot go on like this for much longer.

mastery

He demonstrated his mastery of political manoeuvring.

ken

comprehension

The situation was utterly beyond her comprehension.

3 (noun) in the sense of reach

Peace is now within our grasp.

Synonyms

reach

Luckily, the phone was in easy reach.

power

women who have reached positions of great power and influence

control

The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.

range

The average age range is between 35 and 55.

sweep

the whole sweep of German social and political history

capacity

an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg

scope

the scope of a novel

sway

How can mothers keep daughters under their sway?

compass

Within the compass of a book of this size, such a comprehensive survey is not practicable.

mastery

a region where humans have gained mastery over the major rivers

Additional synonyms

in the sense of capacity

Definition

the ability to contain, absorb, or hold something

an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg

Synonyms

size,

room,

range,

space,

volume,

extent,

dimensions,

scope,

magnitude,

compass,

amplitude

in the sense of catch

Definition

to seize and hold

He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his.

Synonyms

grab,

take,

grip,

seize,

grasp,

clutch,

lay hold of

in the sense of catch on

Definition

to understand

He tried to explain it to me, but it took me a while to catch on.

Synonyms

understand,

see,

find out,

grasp,

see through,

comprehend,

twig (British, informal),

get the picture,

see the light of day

Synonyms of 'grasp'

grasp

Explore 'grasp' in the dictionary

单词	grasp
释义	Trends of grasp View usage for: grasp (grɑːsp, græsp) Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense grasps, present participle grasping, past tense, past participle grasped 1. verb If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly. He grasped both my hands. [VERB noun] She was trying to grasp at something. [VERB + at] Synonyms: grip, hold, catch, grab More Synonyms of grasp 2. See also grasping 3. singular noun A grasp is a very firm hold or grip. His hand was taken in a warm, firm grasp. 4. singular noun [with poss, oft in/from N] If you say that something is in someone's grasp, you disapprove of the fact that they possess or control it. If something slips from your grasp, you lose it or lose control of it. The people in your grasp are not guests, they are hostages. She allowed victory to slip from her grasp. ...the task of liberating a number of states from the grasp of tyrants. 5. verb If you grasp something that is complicated or difficult to understand, you understand it. The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis. [VERB noun] He instantly grasped that Stephen was talking about his wife. [VERB that] Synonyms: understand, realize, take in, get More Synonyms of grasp 6. singular noun A grasp of something is an understanding of it. They have a good grasp of foreign languages. [+ of] Synonyms: understanding, knowledge, grip, perception More Synonyms of grasp 7. See within someone's grasp More Synonyms of grasp grasp in British English (ɡrɑːsp) verb 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. (transitive) to understand, esp with effort noun 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 Derived forms graspable (ˈgraspable) adjective grasper (ˈgrasper) noun Word origin C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English græppian to seize, Old Norse grāpa to steal grasp in American English (græsp; grɑsp) verb transitive 1. to take hold of firmly with or as with the hand or arms; grip 2. to take hold of eagerly or greedily; seize 3. to take hold of mentally; understand; comprehend verb intransitive 4. to reach for and try to seize with at 5. to accept eagerly with at noun 6. the act of grasping; grip or clasp of the hand or arms 7. a firm hold; control; possession 8. the power to hold or seize; reach 9. power of understanding; comprehension SIMILAR WORDS: take Derived forms graspable (ˈgraspable) adjective grasper (ˈgrasper) noun Word origin ME graspen, by metathesis < grapsen, prob. < MLowG (as in LowG, Fris grapsen), akin to Norw dial. grapsa, to scratch, ON grapa, to snatch: see grab More idioms containing grasp grasp the nettle Examples of 'grasp' in a sentence grasp Such a firm grasp on the essential facts. Times, Sunday Times (2007) They had also failed to grasp public unease about the growing pressure on jobs and public services. Times, Sunday Times (2009) Men with a good grasp of their problems tend not to resign. Times, Sunday Times (2010) Perhaps you have to be a journalist to properly grasp how impressive this access was. Times, Sunday Times (2014) Yet colleagues were impressed by his grasp of detail and seeming lack of personal ambition. Times, Sunday Times (2009) He grasped my hand with a grip like steel. Christianity Today (2000) You can grasp hold of the threads. Times, Sunday Times (2011) You have a shrewd grasp of cash facts plus a knack of asking the right questions. The Sun (2013) Now is the time to grasp firmly the reins of your own destiny. Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972) Hosts should have a firm grasp of who the extra people are. Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005) There was no need for the minister to be defensive about his grasp of grammar. Times, Sunday Times (2016) These required a prodigious grasp of detail as well as of overarching policy. Times, Sunday Times (2013) You can get a relative to grasp the financial facts of life. The Sun (2011) It was an episode about grasping dreams and seeing them dissolve. Times, Sunday Times (2012) It was also the place in which his intellectual grasp of the quirks of organisational behaviour matured into practical political skills. Times, Sunday Times (2010) In this role he displayed a firm grasp of the issues of the day and skilfully led a diverse constituency forward. Times, Sunday Times (2011) He examined in detail its toxic effects, displaying an impressive grasp of prevailing medical theories. Benjamin Woolley THE HERBALIST: Nicholas Culpeper Rebel Physician (2004) Reach out the grasping hand straight into your wallet, more like. The Sun (2015) The toothless woman entered the hall of the king and grasped hold of Thor. Barrett, Clive The Gods of Asgard (1989) I personally think a more optimistic outcome is within our grasp as we understand more and more the way the brain works. Times, Sunday Times (2007) The only thing I could grasp in understanding him as a human being was his love for opera. Times, Sunday Times (2007) With each stroke, she tightened her grip on pleasure, loosened her grasp on control. Christina Dodd SOMEDAY MY PRINCE (1999) That way you, one of the little people, can at least grasp back some control. Times, Sunday Times (2014) In other languages grasp British English: grasp /ɡrɑːsp/ VERB If you grasp* something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly. He grasped both my hands. American English: grasp Arabic: يَقْبِضُ عَلَى Brazilian Portuguese: agarrar Chinese: 抓住 Croatian: čvrsto držati Czech: uchopit Danish: fatte Dutch: grijpen European Spanish: agarrar Finnish: saada ote jostakin French: saisir German: festhalten Greek: γραπώνω Italian: afferrare Japanese: しっかりつかむ Korean: 붙잡다 Norwegian: fatte Polish: chwycić European Portuguese: agarrar Romanian: a apuca Russian: схватить Latin American Spanish: agarrar con la mano Swedish: fatta Thai: คว้า Turkish: kavramak Ukrainian: хапати Vietnamese: nắm chặt Chinese translation of 'grasp' grasp (ɡrɑːsp) vt (= hold, seize) 抓住 (zhuāzhù) (= understand) 理解 (lǐjiě) n (s) (= grip) 紧(緊)握 (jǐnwò) (= understanding) 理解力 (lǐjiělì) to slip from sb's grasp 从(從)某人手中溜掉 (cóng mǒurén shǒu zhōng liūdiào) within/beyond sb's grasp 为(為)某人力所能及/力所不及 (wéi mǒurén lì suǒ néng jí/lì suǒ bù jí) to grasp at ... [rope, handle] 向 ... 抓去 (xiàng ... zhuāqù) 1 (verb) in the sense of grip Definition to grip firmly He grasped both my hands. Synonyms grip She gripped his hand tightly. hold Hold the baby while I load the car. catch He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his. grab I managed to grab her hand. seize an otter seizing a fish snatch He snatched the telephone from me. clutch She was clutching a photograph in her hand. clinch clasp Mary clasped the children to her desperately. lay or take hold of 2 (verb) in the sense of understand Definition to understand The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis. Synonyms understand I think you understand my meaning. realize As soon as we realized what was going on, we moved the children away. take in get You don't seem to get the point. see Oh, I see what you're saying. follow Can you follow the plot so far? catch on (informal) He tried to explain it to me, but it took me a while to catch on. comprehend I just cannot comprehend your attitude. get the message about get the picture about catch or get the drift of 1 (noun) in the sense of grip Definition a very firm grip I slipped my hand from his grasp. Synonyms grip I eased the bag from her grip. hold He released his hold on the camera. possession These documents are now in the possession of the authorities. embrace We were locked in a loving embrace. clutches clasp He gripped my hand in a strong clasp. 2 (noun) in the sense of understanding Definition understanding or comprehension They have a good grasp of foreign languages. Synonyms understanding They have to have a basic understanding of computers. knowledge the quest for scientific knowledge grip He has lost his grip on reality. perception her perception of the feeling was strong awareness realization There is a growing realization that things cannot go on like this for much longer. mastery He demonstrated his mastery of political manoeuvring. ken comprehension The situation was utterly beyond her comprehension. 3 (noun) in the sense of reach Peace is now within our grasp. Synonyms reach Luckily, the phone was in easy reach. power women who have reached positions of great power and influence control The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory. range The average age range is between 35 and 55. sweep the whole sweep of German social and political history capacity an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg scope the scope of a novel sway How can mothers keep daughters under their sway? compass Within the compass of a book of this size, such a comprehensive survey is not practicable. mastery a region where humans have gained mastery over the major rivers Additional synonyms in the sense of capacity Definition the ability to contain, absorb, or hold something an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg Synonyms size, room, range, space, volume, extent, dimensions, scope, magnitude, compass, amplitude in the sense of catch Definition to seize and hold He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his. Synonyms grab, take, grip, seize, grasp, clutch, lay hold of in the sense of catch on Definition to understand He tried to explain it to me, but it took me a while to catch on. Synonyms understand, see, find out, grasp, see through, comprehend, twig (British, informal), get the picture, see the light of day Synonyms of 'grasp' grasp Explore 'grasp' in the dictionary
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Trends ofgrasp

grasp

grasp in British English

grasp in American English

More idioms containinggrasp

Examples of 'grasp' in a sentencegrasp

In other languagesgrasp

Chinese translation of 'grasp'

grasp

vt

n (s)

Additional synonyms

Synonyms of 'grasp'

grasp

Trends of
grasp

More idioms containing
grasp

Examples of 'grasp' in a sentence
grasp

In other languages
grasp