grasp
Get a hold
Grasp means to seize and hold firmly with the hand: She grasped the railing to steady herself.
The word extends naturally to mental holding—to grasp an idea is to understand it: I finally grasped what she was trying to say.
A grasp is both a grip and the capacity to comprehend: a good grasp of the fundamentals.
Something within your grasp is attainable; something beyond your grasp exceeds your reach or understanding.
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
- clenchSqueeze tightly shut
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
- claspSecuring device that clicks
- seizeTake suddenly, forcibly
hold · tighten · fingers · palm · prehensile · vise · pincer · claw
Grasp the meaning
- fathomNautical depth unit
- comprehendTo fully understand
- perceiveBecome conscious of
- discernPerceive with careful attention
apprehend · realize · cognize · absorb · assimilate · digest · conceive · interpret
Authoritative instruction given
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
expertise · competence · familiarity · acquaintance · grounding · footing · purchase · control
clutch
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
seize · hold · tighten · fingers · palm · prehensile · vise · pincer · claw · talon
understand
Grasp the meaning
- fathomNautical depth unit
- comprehendTo fully understand
- perceiveBecome conscious of
discern · apprehend · realize · cognize · absorb · assimilate · digest · conceive · interpret · insight
command
Authoritative instruction given
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
- understandingMental comprehension of something
fluency · expertise · competence · familiarity · acquaintance · grounding · footing · purchase · control
stretch
Pull to extend
- extendMake longer or larger
- lungeSudden forward movement
- outstretchSpread fully outward
strain · strive · reach for · fumble · grope · swipe · flail
- Mental facultieswisdom, insight, judgment, understanding, discernment
- touchestouch, pat, tap, rub, stroke
- understandunderstand, realize, comprehend, get it, perceive
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, fathom, follow, know
- grappling termswrestle, hold, clutch, seize, clinch
- holding firmhold, hold fast, hold firm, hold on, hold onto
graspmisunderstand
Grasp incorrectly
incomprehension · misunderstanding · miscomprehension · confusion · misapprehend
- grasp at strawsSeek any possible solution
- grasping at strawsDesperate last-ditch efforts
- grasping for strawsSeeking unlikely solutions
- within grasp
- grasp for strawsSeek any slim chance
- grasp the nettleFace a difficulty directly
grasping, grasped, grasps, graspable, grasper, ungraspable, graspers, regrasped