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Grasp vs Grapple - What's the difference?

grasp | grapple | Related terms |

As verbs the difference between grasp and grapple

is that grasp is to grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand while grapple is to seize something and hold it firmly.

As nouns the difference between grasp and grapple

is that grasp is grip while grapple is a device consisting of iron claws, attached to the end of a rope, used for grasping and holding an enemy ship prior to boarding; a grapnel or grappling iron.

grasp

English

(wikipedia grasp)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.
  • (senseid)To understand.
  • I have never been able to grasp the concept of infinity .

    Derived terms

    * grasp the nettle

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Grip.
  • *
  • *:Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
  • (senseid)Understanding.
  • That which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability.
  • :
  • grapple

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (see below). More at (l).

    Verb

    (grappl)
  • To seize something and hold it firmly.
  • (figuratively) to ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; normally used with "with".
  • * to grapple''' with one's '''conscience
  • To use a grapple.
  • To wrestle or tussle.
  • To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
  • * Hakluyt
  • The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Noun

  • (nautical) A device consisting of iron claws, attached to the end of a rope, used for grasping and holding an enemy ship prior to boarding; a grapnel or grappling iron.
  • (uncountable) The act of grappling.
  • A close hand-to-hand struggle.