grasp
Plural: grasps
Noun
- understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
- "he has a good grasp of accounting practices"
- the limit of capability
- an intellectual hold or understanding
- "a terrible power had her in its grasp"
- the act of grasping
- Grip.
- Understanding.
- That which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability.
Verb
Verb Forms: grasped, grasping, grasps
- To seize and hold firmly, or to understand completely.
- hold firmly
- get the meaning of something
- To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.
- To understand.
- To take advantage of something, to seize, to jump at a chance.
Examples
- He quickly grasped the strategy needed to win this Scrabble game.
- I have never been able to grasp the concept of infinity.
- The goal is within my grasp.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English graspen, grapsen, craspen (“to grope; feel around”), from Old English *grǣpsian, from Proto-West Germanic *graipisōn, from Proto-Germanic *graipisōną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), the same ultimate source as grab.
Cognate with German Low German grapsen (“to grab; grasp”), German grapsen and grapschen, Saterland Frisian Grapse (“double handful”), Old English grāpian ("to touch, feel, grasp"; > Modern English grope). Compare also Swedish krafsa (“to scatch; scabble”), Norwegian krafse (“to scramble”).
Synonyms
appreciation, apprehend, clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, compass, comprehend, dig, get the picture, grip, grok, hold, hold on, range, reach, savvy, beclasp, begrasp, begrip, belock, clinch, cling, enclasp, fang, fathom, fondle, glaum, grab, grabble, grasp, hang on, hold tight, jump at the chance, jump on, nab, nim, seize, stranglehold, take
Antonyms
let go, release
Scrabble Score: 8
grasp: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordgrasp: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
grasp: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary