grasp

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.

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).

Idioms:

graspat straws

To search in desperation for a solution to a difficulty.

grasp the nettle

To take on a difficult problem directly and energetically.

---

[Middle English graspen; see ghrebh- in Indo-European roots.]

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

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	grasp - understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting practices" appreciation, hold 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" compass, reach, range capableness, potentiality, capability - an aptitude that may be developed ken, sight - the range of vision; "out of sight of land"
	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" grip 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" clutch, clutches, grip, hold, clasp, clench 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 hold on 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 hold, take hold - have or hold in one's hands or grip; "Hold this bowl for a moment, please"; "A crazy idea took hold of him"
	2.	grasp - get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?" apprehend, comprehend, get the picture, grok, savvy, compass, dig 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

1. grip, hold, possession, embrace, clutches, clasp She slipped her hand from his grasp.

2. understanding, knowledge, grip, perception, awareness, realization, mastery, ken, comprehension They have a good grasp of foreign languages.

3. reach, power, control, range, sweep, capacity, scope, sway, compass, mastery Peace is now within our grasp.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

grasp

verb

1. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on:

clasp, clench, clutch, grab, grapple, grip, seize.

2. To perceive directly with the intellect:

apprehend, compass, comprehend, fathom, know, understand.

Scots: ken.

3. To perceive and recognize the meaning of:

accept, apprehend, catch (on), compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, make out, read, see, sense, take, take in, understand.

Informal: savvy.

Slang: dig.

Chiefly British: twig.

Scots: ken.

Idioms: get a handle on, get the picture.

noun

1. An act or means of holding something:

clasp, clench, clutch, grip, hold.

Sports: grapple.

2. Firm control:

grip, hold.

3. A strong or powerful influence:

grip, hold.

4. The ability or power to seize or attain:

capacity, compass, range, reach, scope.

5. Intellectual hold:

apprehension, comprehension, grip, hold, understanding.

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

Auffassungsgabebegreifenerfassenergreifenfesthalten

γραπώνω

agarrarasircomprendercomprensiónconocimientos

saada ote jostakin

saisirsoupçonneragrippercompréhensionempoigner

הבנהלפיתהתפיסה

čvrsto držati

gripgrípaskilja, grípaskilningur

afferrarecomprenderepadronanzastrettaprendere

しっかりつかむ

붙잡다

nusitvėrimassugniaužimassugriebti

aptvertsaprašanasatverttvēriensuztveres spēja

begrijpenbegripgrijpengrip

fattegrepgripe fatt ita fatt i

chwycić

agarraralcancecompreendercompreensãoentender

захватитьсхватитьхватать

chápaniechopiť sa

doumetigrabitiprijemprijeti

fatta

คว้า

kavramaksıkıca tutmaanlamakanlayışkavrama

nắm chặt

抓抓住抓紧理解力领会

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

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

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

1. (lit) [+ rope etc] → tratar de asir

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

(= take hold of) → saisir, empoigner

(= 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

(= understanding) → compréhension f
to have a good grasp of sth → bien comprendre qch

(= knowledge) → connaissance f

grasp at

vt fus

[+ rope, handle] → essayer de saisir

(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

vt

(= catch hold of) → ergreifen, greifen nach; (= hold tightly) → festhalten; he grasped the bundle in his arms → er hielt das Bündel in den Armen; to grasp a chance → eine Gelegenheit ergreifen; to grasp somebody’s hand → nach jds Hand greifen

(fig: = understand) → begreifen, erfassen

vi to grasp at something (lit) → nach etw greifen; (fig) → sich auf etw (acc) → stürzen; hope → sich klammern an (+dat); to grasp at an opportunity → eine Gelegenheit ergreifen or beim Schopfe packen ? also straw

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

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) verb

1. 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. gryp, aangryp يَمْسِك ب улавям agarrar uchopit, chopit se ergreifen gribe αρπάζω, δράττομαι asir, agarrar; apretar, empuñar haarama محکم گرفتن tarttua empoigner, saisir לֶאֱחוֹז पकड़ना uhvatiti, dohvatiti megragad menangkap grípa (um) afferrare; cogliere つかむ 꽉 쥐다 nutverti, sugriebti satvert merebut pakken gripe/ta (fatt i) chwycić نيول، په لاس كې نيول agarrar a apuca, a înhăţa ухватиться chopiť sa zagrabiti zgrabiti fatta [tag i], gripa จับ kavramak 抓住 хапати; схоплювати ہاتھوں سے تھامنا túm; bám 抓紧

2. to understand. I can't grasp what he's getting at. begryp يَفْهَم разбирам compreender pochopit begreifen forstå; fatte αντιλαμβάνομαιcaptar, coger, comprender, entender taipama درک کردن tajuta saisir לִתפוֹס, לְהָבִין समझना, ग्रहण करना shvatiti, razumjeti megért memahami skilja, grípa capire 理解する 이해하다 suprasti, suvokti aptvert faham begrijpenbegripe, fatte, forståpojąć در ك كول compreender a pricepe понять pochopiť doumeti razumeti fatta, begripa เข้าใจ anlamak 領悟 збагнути, зрозуміти مفہوم کو سمجھنا hiểu thấu 领会

noun

1. a grip with one's hand etc. Have you got a good grasp on that rope? greep قَبْضَه، مَسْكَه хватка aperto uchopení, sevření der Griff greb σφιχτό πιάσιμο, σφίξιμοasimiento, apretón; control, dominio haare چنگ ote priseאחיזה पकड़ čvrst zahvat megragadás genggaman grip presa 握ること 꽉 쥐기 nusitvėrimas, sugniaužimas tvēriens genggaman greepgrep, tak chwyt تړل aperto înhăţare хватка; крепкое сжатие uchopenie prijem stisak grepp, tag การคว้า kavrama, sıkıca tutma 抓 хватка پکڑ sự cầm lấy 抓

2. the ability to understand. His ideas are quite beyond my grasp. begrip إدراك، فَهْم схватливост alcance chápání die Auffassungsgabe forståelse; fatteevne αντίληψηentendimiento, comprensión, capacidad, conocimientos arusaam فهم taju compréhensionתפיסה समझ, बोध poimanje, shvaćanje felfogóképesség pengertian skilningur comprensione 理解 이해력 suvokimas uztveres spēja; saprašana pemahaman begripfatteevne zdolność pojmowania درک،پوهه alcance înţelegere понимание chápanie razumevanje razumecanje fattningsförmåga, horisont ความสามารถในการเข้าใจ anlayış 領悟力 опанування سمجھنے کی صلاحیت sự hiểu biết 理解力

ˈgrasping adjective

greedy (especially for money). a grasping old man. grypsugtige, inhalige جَشِع، طَمّاع алчен ganancioso lakomý habgierig grisk άπληστος, φιλάργυροςavaricioso, codicioso, avaro ahne حریص ahne avareחמדן पकड़ने वाला, लालची pohlepan kapzsi serakah ágjarn, gráðugur avido 欲深い 탐욕스런 godus, gobšus mantkārīgs; alkatīgs tamak inhalig, hebzuchtiggrådig, grisk, begjærligzachłanny سراښ، حريص ganancioso hrăpăreţ, lacom алчный lakomý grabežljiv nezasit sniken, girig โลภ açgözlü, gözü doymaz 貪婪的 жадібний, скупий لالچی tham lam 贪婪的

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 agarrar

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.