grasp

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. hold, clasp, seize; comprehend, understand. See acquisition, intelligence, authority, retention.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

1. [To clutch]

Syn. seize, take, grip, clasp; see seize 1 , 2 .

2. [To comprehend]

Syn. perceive, apprehend, follow; see understand 1 .

See Synonym Study at seize . n.

Syn. hold, clutch, cinch; see grip 2 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. grip hold, clutch, clasp.

2. comprehension understanding, perception, mastery, knowledge, cognition.

II

v.

1. grip grab, hold, clutch, clasp, catch, snatch, clinch, grapple, nab.

2. comprehend understand, get, see, sense, follow, apprehend, appreciate.

ANT.: 1. loose, release, let go

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on: clasp, clench, clutch1, grab, grapple, grip, seize. See KEEP. 2. To perceive directly with the intellect: apprehend, compass, comprehend, fathom, know, understand. Scots: ken. See KNOWLEDGE. 3. To perceive and recognize the meaning of: accept, apprehend, catch (on), compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, make out, read, see, sense, take, take in, understand. Informal: savvy. Slang: dig. Chiefly British: twig. Scots: ken. Idioms: get (or have) a handle on, get the picture. See UNDERSTAND. II noun 1. An act or means of holding something: clasp, clench, clutch1, grip, hold. Sports: grapple. See KEEP. 2. Firm control: grip, hold. See CONTROL. 3. A strong or powerful influence: grip, hold. See AFFECT. 4. The ability or power to seize or attain: capacity, compass, range, reach, scope. See ABILITY. 5. Intellectual hold: apprehension, comprehension, grip, hold, understanding. Informal: savvy. See KNOWLEDGE.