grasp

—graspable, adj. —grasper, n. —graspless, adj.

/grasp, grahsp/, 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 get hold of mentally; comprehend; understand: I don't grasp your meaning.

v.i.

4. to make an attempt to seize, or a motion of seizing, something (usually fol. by at or for): a drowning man grasping at straws; to grasp for an enemy's rifle.

n.

5. the act of grasping or gripping, as with the hands or arms: to make a grasp at something.

6. a hold or grip: to have a firm grasp of a rope.

7. one's arms or hands, in embracing or gripping: He took her in his grasp.

8. one's power of seizing and holding; reach: to have a thing within one's grasp.

9. hold, possession, or mastery: to wrest power from the grasp of a usurper.

10. mental hold or capacity; power to understand.

11. broad or thorough comprehension: a good grasp of computer programming.

[1350-1400; ME graspen, grapsen; c. LG grapsen; akin to OE gegraeppian to seize (see GRAPPLE)]

Syn. 1. grip, clutch; grab. See catch. 9. clutches. 10. scope, comprehension. 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.

Ant. 1. release.

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