grasp in English
- grasp⇄expr. grasp at,
a. to try to grasp, try to take hold of.
Ex. Old Yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying dead (Tennyson).
b. to accept eagerly.
Ex. She grasped at the opportunity. I readily grasped at his prop - grasp⇄grasp, verb, noun.
- grasp⇄noun grasper.
- grasp⇄noun 1. the act of seizing and holding tightly; clasp of the hand.
Ex. His firm grasp held the rope from slipping.
2. the power of seizing and holding; reach.
Ex. That rope is within his grasp. (Figurative.) Success is within her grasp - grasp⇄v.t. 1. to seize and hold fast by closing the fingers or claws around.
Ex. The drowning man grasped the rope. If you grasp a nettle firmly it doesn't sting.
(SYN) grip, clutch, grab, snatch.
2. to hold firmly, as with the hand; grip.
grasp in Sindhi سنڌي
grasp in Tamil தமிழ்
grasp in Telugu తెలుగు
grasp in Urdu اُردُو
Grasp
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Pronunciation
/ɡræsp/ (US, UK)
Definitions
- Verb: To seize and hold firmly.
- Verb: To understand something fully.
- Noun: A firm hold or grip.
- Noun: Understanding or comprehension.
Usage Examples
- She grasped the rope tightly to avoid falling.
- He quickly grasped the concept of quantum mechanics.
- The climber’s grasp on the ledge was slipping.
- Her grasp of French improved significantly after immersion.
Etymology
From Middle English graspen, possibly of Scandinavian origin, akin to Old Norse grīpa ("to seize").
Synonyms
- Clutch
- Seize
- Grip
- Comprehend
- Understand
Antonyms
- Release
- Let go
- Misunderstand
- Overlook
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Agarre / Comprender | aˈɣare / komprenˈder |
| French | Saisir / Comprendre | sɛ.zir / kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃dʁ |
| German | Greifen / Verstehen | ˈɡʁaɪ̯fən / fɛɐ̯ˈʃteːən |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 抓住 / 理解 | zhuā zhù / lǐ jiě |
| Hindi | पकड़ना / समझना | pakadnā / samajhnā |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
In American English, "grasp" is pronounced with a more open "a" sound, while in British English, the "a" may sound slightly shorter.
Historical Usage
The word has been used in both literal and figurative senses since the 14th century, evolving from physical grip to mental comprehension.
Cultural Nuances
In some languages, separate words exist for physical grasping and intellectual comprehension, unlike English where both meanings are covered by "grasp."
More Information
Grasp is commonly used metaphorically in education and philosophy to describe understanding complex topics. It is also frequently found in idiomatic expressions like "grasping at straws."