grasp

Everyday

1. (verb) To take and hold something tightly: She grasped the rope. tree →
2. (verb) To understand something, especially something hard: He quickly grasped the idea. tree →
3. (noun) A firm hold: Keep a tight grasp on the rail. tree →
4. (noun) Understanding: a good grasp of maths. tree →
5. (noun) Reach; how close something is to being got: Victory was within our grasp. tree →

In the lessons

In school a teacher checks pupils have a «good grasp» of fractions; in safety lessons you grasp the handrail on stairs; in stories something is «within grasp» or «out of grasp». Phrases: «grasp the idea», «a good grasp of», «within your grasp», «grasp at straws».

Examples

• Grasp the handrail as you go down the stairs. tree →
• The baby grasped my finger. tree →
• It took me a while to grasp long division. tree →
• She has a good grasp of French. tree →
• The ball slipped from his grasp. tree →
• Winning the cup was within our grasp. tree →
• "Stay, foolish youth," said Medea, grasping his arm. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Grasp (understand) is a little formal; casual words are «get» or «get the hang of». «Grasping» as an adjective means greedy.

In Jewish tradition

In the Psalms it means the hold or power of a wicked person, from which the psalmist prays God to rescue him.

Interpretation. The tradition reads the psalm as trust that God can free the weak from the power of the cruel.

Examples

• A separate consideration of the several parts should follow this general grasp of the subject, else much confusion may result. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• O my God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man. (Writings PSA.71.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb. Grasp (understand) is a little formal; casual words are «get» or «get the hang of». «Grasping» as an adjective means greedy.