From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgraspgrasp1 /ɡrɑːsp $ ɡræsp/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 HOLDto take and hold something firmly SYN grip I grasped his arm firmly and led him away. Alan grasped the handle and pulled it.► see thesaurus at hold2 [not in progressive]UNDERSTAND to completely understand a fact or an idea, especially a complicated one At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened. Some people find the idea of relativity difficult to grasp.grasp what/how etc A short opening paragraph enables the reader to quickly grasp what the article is about.grasp that Nick had grasped that something was wrong.► see thesaurus at understand3 → grasp an opportunity4 → grasp the nettle → grasp at something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
grasp• Fame has come suddenly, and Peyton is finding it hard to grasp.• Science lessons should be taught in a way that makes the material easier to grasp.• Taylor manages to explain technical ideas in a way that non-specialists can grasp.• This was separated from the other digits, giving their owners the ability to grasp and manipulate objects.• They grasp at each other with numbed fingers for the comfort of touch.• Wexford grasped it in both his hands, raised it high and brought it down hard to meet the empty air.• What is so sad is that through all the tinsel shines a reality, but we can not seem to grasp it.• Though I have no trouble grasping its concepts, math continues to be difficult for me.• The toothed whales have a set of teeth which they use to grasp large and quick-moving prey, mainly squid or fish.• The army had failed to grasp that their mission was to protect the navy's ships, not vice versa.• The right balance of detail should help the reader quickly grasp the nature of the problem and your approach to it.• Obviously, she had barely grasped the subject.• The handgrips should be shaped so that children can grasp them firmly.grasp that• Abandoned by her family and deserted by her servants, Elena Petrescu was incapable of grasping that a revolution had happened.• Being registered as Paula Grey will lead the baying hounds straight to you - once they grasp that I've disappeared too.• He should have grasped that it was indeed an irrepressible conflict.• Lucker holds my hand with the kind of grasp that men at sea learn as a last resort.• When the workers are slow to grasp that reality, the results are often heartbreaking.• When will the Opposition grasp that simple fact?• He had also quickly grasped that the islanders would do nothing to endanger the safety of Sycorax.• They fail to grasp that what is required is their own detailed response to what is before them.graspgrasp2 ●○○ noun [singular] 1 HOLDthe way you hold something or your ability to hold it SYN grip Luke took her arm in a firm grasp and led her through the gate. He had allowed the ball to slip from his grasp.► see thesaurus at knowledge2 UNDERSTANDyour ability to understand a complicated idea, situation, or subject SYN understandinggrasp of Her grasp of the issues was impressive.a good/firm/thorough etc grasp of something Steve has a good grasp of the European legal system.grasp on After two months, his grasp on the subject was improving.3 DOyour ability to achieve or gain somethingwithin somebody’s grasp An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.beyond somebody’s grasp Many families are finding suitable housing beyond their grasp.4 literaryCONTROL control or power The king was determined not to let Scotland slip from his grasp.Examples from the Corpus
grasp• But such a brash grasp for the moral high ground called for an answer.• She seized the handle, but the impetus was too great, and it was wrenched from her convulsive grasp.• Take a firm grasp on the rope.• Helen tightened her grasp on my collar and shouted ""Don't fool around with me, Mickey!''• He had Hannele in mind and, he hoped, almost in his grasp.• He recognised him at once as Fouchard returned, trophy firmly in his grasp.• He now had Joe the Fish in his grasp, as he had sworn to himself that he would.• Recent moves have weakened his grasp on power.• Cordell had an impressive grasp of military issues.• His technique shows a masterful grasp of the conventions of the philosophic dialogue perfected by Plato.• Would anyone with a reasonable grasp on sanity even attempt something like this?• She tried to escape Moore's grasp but he was too strong for her.• Some of the historical nuances are beyond the grasp of most children.• Can one doubt that such a tale is one of a tightening grasp of an actual reality?a good/firm/thorough etc grasp of something• Thus by the age of five years, children have a good grasp of the concept of intention.• Some cathedral organists have developed considerable liturgical flair and some have a good grasp of theology.• Although some students have a good grasp of colloquial language, few have ever got to grips with the concept of register.• It remained his belief, though, that a firm grasp of wider realities would serve him well. 