grasp

grasp1 [ græsp ] verb transitive **

1. ) to take and hold something or someone very tightly:

She grasped his hand and pulled him toward her.

grasp someone by the shoulders/arm/wrist etc: He grasped her firmly by the shoulders.

2. ) to understand something:

He was finding it difficult to grasp the rules of the game.

grasp the meaning/significance of something: You should try to grasp the meaning of whole sentences.

grasp a concept/principle/point: Charlie grasped the point at once.

3. ) to take advantage of an opportunity when it happens:

We must grasp every opportunity if we are going to succeed.

He had failed to grasp his one chance of happiness.

=> NETTLE1

`grasp at phrasal verb transitive grasp at something

1. ) to try to take hold of something:

Hands were grasping at his coat as he walked past.

2. ) to try and take the opportunity to do something:

She was grasping at the chance to escape her problems.

=> STRAW

grasp

grasp 2 [ græsp ] noun singular *

1. ) the ability to understand something:

have/get a grasp of something: The government has no grasp of the suffering of the poor.

a good/firm/poor grasp of something: She has a good grasp of English.

be beyond someone's grasp (=be impossible for someone to understand): The tasks were beyond the intellectual grasp of many pupils.

2. ) the ability to achieve something:

within/in someone's grasp: Victory was now within their grasp.

slip from someone's grasp (=become impossible for someone to achieve): Just when the game seemed to be slipping from their grasp, they scored a vital goal.

beyond/out of someone's grasp: Peace was not completely beyond his grasp.

3. ) a very tight hold of someone or something:

Suddenly he broke free from her grasp.

a ) power that someone has over someone or something:

He kept the reins of power firmly in his grasp.