GRASP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grasp mean? 

• GRASP (noun)
  The noun GRASP has 4 senses:

1. understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

2. the limit of capability

3. an intellectual hold or understanding

4. the act of grasping

  Familiarity information: GRASP used as a noun is uncommon.

• GRASP (verb)
  The verb GRASP has 2 senses:

1. hold firmly

2. get the meaning of something

  Familiarity information: GRASP used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRASP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

appreciation; grasp; hold

Context example:

he has a good grasp of accounting practices

Hypernyms ("grasp" is a kind of...):

apprehension; discernment; savvy; understanding (the cognitive condition of someone who understands)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grasp"):

sense (a natural appreciation or ability)

Derivation:

grasp (get the meaning of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The limit of capability

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

compass; grasp; range; reach

Context example:

within the compass of education

Hypernyms ("grasp" is a kind of...):

capability; capableness; potentiality (an aptitude that may be developed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grasp"):

ken; sight (the range of vision)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An intellectual hold or understanding

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

grasp; grip

Context example:

a terrible power had her in its grasp

Hypernyms ("grasp" is a kind of...):

influence (a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grasp"):

tentacle (something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of grasping

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

clasp; clench; clutch; clutches; grasp; grip; hold

Context example:

she kept a firm hold on the railing

Hypernyms ("grasp" is a kind of...):

grasping; prehension; seizing; taking hold (the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grasp"):

choke hold; chokehold (a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind)

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

wrestling hold (a hold used in the sport of wrestling)

Derivation:

grasp (hold firmly)

• GRASP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they grasp    ... he / she / it grasps   
Past simple: grasped   
Past participle: grasped   
-ing form: grasping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hold firmly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

grasp; hold on

Hypernyms (to "grasp" is one way to...):

hold; take hold (have or hold in one's hands or grip)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "grasp"):

latch on (take hold of or attach to)

cling; hang (hold on tightly or tenaciously)

clasp (hold firmly and tightly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

grasp (the act of grasping)

grasping (the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get the meaning of something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

apprehend; compass; comprehend; dig; get the picture; grasp; grok; savvy

Context example:

Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?

Hypernyms (to "grasp" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "grasp"):

figure (understand)

catch on; cotton on; get it; get onto; get wise; latch on; tumble; twig (understand, usually after some initial difficulty)

intuit (know or grasp by intuition or feeling)

digest (arrange and integrate in the mind)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence examples:

They won't grasp the story
Sam and Sue grasp the movie

Derivation:

grasp (understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something)

grasping (understanding with difficulty)

 Context examples 

With the policeman's hail he was immediately his ordinary self, grasping the situation clearly.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

From the instant that I grasped it my whole mind was turned to the one thought of getting back my husband’s paper.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The catch here is that the perch is covered in Teflon, making it seemingly impossible to grasp.

(Researchers study birds to improve how robots land, National Science Foundation)

He teaches that the accomplishments we are proudest of are the ones we’ve worked hardest to grasp.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He had returned with the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Before I could grasp the situation, or act, he had walked right into the trap.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a piece of steel.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Grasping these rushes firmly near the root, he pulled up what resembled a young onion-sprout no larger than a shingle-nail.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

This particular energy range offers astronomers a detailed look at what is happening near the event horizon, the region around a black hole from which light can no longer escape gravity's grasp.

(NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

Limitations in observation technologies have kept scientists from grasping a more complete picture of black holes.

(Observing 'black hole symphony' using gravitational wave astronomy, National Science Foundation)