grasp (ɡrɑːsp
)
Definitions
verb
- to grip (something) firmly with or as if with the hands
- when intr, often foll by at to struggle, snatch, or grope (for)
- (tr) 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
Alternative Forms
ˈgraspable adjective ˈgrasper nounWord Origin
C14: from Low German grapsen; related to Old English græppian to seize, Old Norse grāpa to stealSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
understand,
realize,
take in,
get,
see,
follow,
catch on,
comprehend,
get the message about get the picture about catch or get the drift of
Translations
- British English:
grasp
If you grasp something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly.He grasped both my hands.ɡrɑːsp VERB He grasped both my hands.
- Spanish:
captar
v
- French:
saisir
vt
- German:
festhalten
v
- Chinese: 抓住 v
- Arabic: يَقْبِضُ عَلَى vt
- Portuguese: agarrar v
- Russian: схватывать v
- Croatian: shvatiti v
- Czech: uchopit v
- Danish: fatte v
- Dutch: grijpen v
- Finnish: saada ote jostakin v
- Greek: γραπώνω v
- Italian: afferrare v
- Japanese: しっかりつかむ v
- Korean: 붙잡다 v
- Norwegian: fatte v
- Polish: chwycić v chwytać
- Brazilian Portuguese: agarrar v
- European Spanish:
captar
v
- Swedish: fatta v
- Thai: คว้า v
- Turkish: kavramak v
- Vietnamese: nắm chặt v
Usage examples
Other than that -- "He threw his arms in the air, stick dangling from his grasp.
, The Last Raven (1990)Indeed, with one eye covered volunteers lost their ability to ignore the illusion and grasp correctly.
New Scientist (1998)It wasn't entirely clear that he had a firm grasp on where he was.
Globe and Mail (2003)From Balde's point of view he claimed Fenwick was pulling his jersey and he was simply trying to break free from his grasp.
Glasgow Herald (2002)To grasp the era's early air of excitement, one need only go back to its most energised records.
, THE LAST PARTY: Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock (2003)