Definitions for: Grasp


[n] 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"
[n] a firm controlling influence; "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"
[n] the limit of capability; "within the compass of education"
[n] understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"
[v] get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?"
[v] hold firmly



Webster (1913) Definition: Grasp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grasper; p. pr. & vb. n.
Qraspine.] [OE. graspen; prob. akin to LG. grupsen, or to
E. grope. Cf. Grab, Grope.]
1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the
fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of.

Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff. --Shak.

2. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly
acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.


Grasp, v. i.
To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to clutch;
to struggle; to strive.

As one that grasped And tugged for life and was by
strength subdued. --Shak.

To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize; as, Alexander
grasped at universal empire,


Grasp, n.
1. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or
infolding in the arms. ``The grasps of love.'' --Shak.

2. Reach of the arms; hence, the power of seizing and
holding; as, it was beyond his grasp.

3. Forcible possession; hold.

The whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp.
--Shak.

4. Wide-reaching power of intellect to comprehend subjects
and hold them under survey.

The foremost minds of the next . . . era were not,
in power of grasp, equal to their predecessors. --Z.
Taylor.

5. The handle of a sword or of an oar.

Synonyms: appreciation, apprehend, clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, compass, compass, comprehend, dig, get the picture, grip, grip, grip, hold, hold, hold on, range, reach, savvy

See Also: apprehension, capability, capableness, catch on, clasp, cling, cotton on, digest, discernment, embrace, embracing, figure, get it, get onto, grasping, hang, hold, influence, intuit, ken, latch on, potentiality, prehension, savvy, seizing, sense, sight, take hold, taking hold, tentacle, tumble, twig, understand, understanding, wrestling hold

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