grasp

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 [VN] to take a firm hold of sb/sth: He grasped my hand and shook it warmly. * Kay grasped him by the wrist. 2 to understand sth completely: [VN] They failed to grasp the importance of his words. * [Vwh-] She was unable to grasp how to do it. * [Vthat] It took him some time to grasp that he was now a public figure. 3 [VN] ~ a chance / an opportunity to take an opportunity without hesitating and use it: I grasped the opportunity to work abroad. IDIOMS grasp the nettle (BrE) to deal with a difficult situation firmly and without hesitating: The government now has the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform. moreatSTRAW PHRASALVERBS grasp at sth 1 to try to take hold of sth in your hands: She grasped at his coat as he rushed past her. 2 to try to take an opportunity noun [usuallysing.] 1 a firm hold of sb/sth or control over sb/sth: I grabbed him, but he slipped from my grasp. * She felt a firm grasp on her arm. * Don't let the situation escape from your grasp. * As soon as he relaxed his grasp on the rope, it was pulled out of his hands. * As the drugs took hold, her grasp of reality began to slip slowly away. 2 a person's understanding of a subject or of difficult facts: He has a good grasp of German grammar. * These complex formulae are beyond the grasp of the average pupil. 3 the ability to get or achieve sth: Success was within her grasp.