Definition of the word grasp

Pronunciation of vocabulary grasp

graspverb

sự hiểu biết

/ɡrɑːsp//ɡræsp/

Origin of the word grasp

The word "grasp" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The earliest recorded use of the word "grasp" dates back to around 900 AD, where it was spelled "graspian" or "græpsian". This Old English verb meant "to seize or take hold of", often in a sudden or forceful manner. The word is thought to have evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "* Gripjan", which is also the source of the Modern English word "grip". This Proto-Germanic word is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*greh-", which meant "to grasp or seize". Over time, the meaning of "grasp" expanded to include figurative senses, such as understanding or laying hold of an idea or concept. Today, the word is used in a wide range of contexts, from physical actions to intellectual or emotional concepts.

Vocabulary summary grasp

typenoun

meaninggrasp, cling, embrace

exampleto grasp somebody's hand

meaningpower

exampleto grasp firmly

exampleto grasp somebody's meaning

meaninggrasp, understand

exampleto grasp at on opportunity

examplea problem within one's grasp

examplea problem beyond one's grasp

typeverb

meaninghold, hold tight, grasp, hug

exampleto grasp somebody's hand

meaninggrasp, understand (the problem...)

exampleto grasp firmly

exampleto grasp somebody's meaning

meaning(: at) grab, snatch, try to grasp

exampleto grasp at on opportunity

examplea problem within one's grasp

examplea problem beyond one's grasp

Example of vocabulary graspnamespace

to take a strong hold of somebody/something

nắm chặt lấy ai/cái gì

  • He grasped my hand and shook it warmly.

    Anh nắm lấy tay tôi và bắt tay thật nồng nhiệt.

  • Kay grasped him by the wrist.

    Kay nắm lấy cổ tay anh.

Extra examples:
  • Her hands were grasping at his coat.

    Tay cô đang nắm chặt lấy áo khoác của anh.

  • She grasped him tightly by the wrist.

    Cô nắm chặt lấy cổ tay anh.

  • She grasped hold of the banister to support herself.

    Cô nắm lấy lan can để đứng vững.

  • He grasped the pan by its handle.

    Anh nắm lấy tay cầm của cái chảo.

to understand something completely

để hiểu một cái gì đó hoàn toàn

  • They failed to grasp the importance of his words.

    Họ không hiểu được tầm quan trọng trong lời nói của ông.

  • She was unable to grasp how to do it.

    Cô không thể nắm bắt được cách thực hiện điều đó.

  • It took him some time to grasp that he was now a public figure.

    Phải mất một thời gian anh mới hiểu rằng mình hiện là người của công chúng.

Extra examples:
  • It's a difficult concept for children to understand/​grasp.

    Đó là một khái niệm khó hiểu đối với trẻ em.

  • By this time, engineers understood/​had grasped the basic principles of aerodynamics.

    Đến thời điểm này, các kỹ sư đã hiểu/đã nắm được các nguyên tắc cơ bản của khí động học.

  • a means by which students can more easily grasp the basics of science

    một phương tiện giúp học sinh có thể dễ dàng nắm bắt được những kiến ​​thức cơ bản của khoa học

  • Some of these concepts are very difficult to grasp.

    Một số khái niệm này rất khó nắm bắt.

  • She failed to grasp the significance of these facts.

    Cô đã không nắm bắt được ý nghĩa của những sự thật này.

to take an opportunity without hesitating and use it

nắm lấy cơ hội mà không do dự và sử dụng nó

  • I grasped the opportunity to work abroad.

    Tôi nắm bắt cơ hội đi làm việc ở nước ngoài.

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary grasp

Idioms of vocabulary grasp

clutch/grasp at straws
to try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely
  • I know I’m just clutching at straws here, but is it possible that the doctors are wrong?
    • grasp the nettle
    (British English)to deal with a difficult situation without hesitating
  • The government now has the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform.

    • Comment ()