grasp

Noun · Verb

US[grasp]/ɡræsp/1 syllable

Open English WordNet

hold firmlySynonyms: hold onMore general holdMore specific clasp, cling, latch on
get the meaning of something“Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?”Synonyms: grok get the picture comprehend savvy dig compass apprehendMore general understandMore specific catch on, figure, digest, intuit

understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something“he has a good grasp of accounting practices”Synonyms: appreciation holdType of understanding, apprehensionKinds sense
the limit of capability“within the compass of education”Synonyms: compass range reachType of capability, capablenessKinds sight, ken
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”Synonyms: gripType of influenceKinds tentacle
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”Synonyms: clasp clench clutch clutches grip holdType of grasping, taking holdKinds embrace, wrestling hold, chokehold

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The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.

Grasp transitive verb [past tense & past participle Grasper; present participle & verbal noun Qraspine.]

Origin: 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.— William Shakespeare

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

Grasp intransitive verb

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.— William Shakespeare

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

Grasp noun

1. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or infolding in the arms. “The grasps of love.” William Shakespeare

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.— William Shakespeare

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.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54