51Թ

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View synonyms for

grasp

[grasp, grahsp]

verb (used with object)

  1. to seize and hold by or as if by clasping with the fingers or arms.

    Synonyms: , , ,
    Antonyms:
  2. to seize upon; hold firmly.

  3. to get hold of mentally; comprehend; understand.

    I don't grasp your meaning.



verb (used without object)

  1. to make an attempt to seize, or a motion of seizing, something (usually followed by at orfor ).

    a drowning man grasping at straws; to grasp for an enemy's rifle.

noun

  1. the act of grasping or gripping, as with the hands or arms.

    to make a grasp at something.

  2. a hold or grip.

    to have a firm grasp of a rope.

  3. one's arms or hands, in embracing or gripping.

    He took her in his grasp.

  4. one's power of seizing and holding; reach.

    to have a thing within one's grasp.

  5. hold, possession, or mastery.

    to wrest power from the grasp of a usurper.

    Synonyms:
  6. mental hold or capacity; power to understand.

    Synonyms: , ,
  7. broad or thorough comprehension.

    a good grasp of computer programming.

grasp

/ ɡɑː /

verb

  1. to grip (something) firmly with or as if with the hands

  2. to struggle, snatch, or grope (for)

  3. (tr) to understand, esp with effort

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of grasping

  2. a grip or clasp, as of a hand

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

  4. total rule or possession

  5. understanding; comprehension

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • graspable adjective
  • grasper noun
  • graspless adjective
  • regrasp verb (used with object)
  • ungraspable adjective
  • ungrasped adjective
  • ˈ noun
  • ˈ貹 adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of grasp1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English graspen, grapsen; cognate with Low German grapsen; akin to Old English 𲵰æ辱 “to seize” ( grapple )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of grasp1

C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English æ辱 to seize, Old Norse to steal
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with grasp, also see get a fix on (grasp of).
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Synonym Study

See catch. Grasp, reach refer to the power of seizing, either concretely or figuratively. Grasp suggests actually seizing and closing the hand upon something (or, figuratively, thoroughly comprehending something) and therefore refers to what is within one's possession or immediate possibility of possession: a good grasp of a problem; immense mental grasp. Reach suggests a stretching out of (usually) the hand to touch, strike, or, if possible, seize something; it therefore refers to a potentiality of possession that requires an effort. Figuratively, it implies perhaps a faint conception of something still too far beyond one to be definitely and clearly understood.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That final appearance was in last year's T20 World Cup in the Caribbean where they lost to India when victory seemed to be within their grasp.

From

This context is crucial for grasping the shock value Carpenter is going for with the cover of her upcoming album, "Man's Best Friend."

From

The song is a cathedral of sound that you could walk into 500 times without fully grasping how he built it.

From

"We're very lucky to have got the experience that we had and we certainly enjoyed grasping every opportunity and seeing as much of the world as we can," Brian said.

From

He will also no doubt be replaying goals two and three that evaded his grasp.

From

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Grasmeregrasp at straws