grip

[ grip ]

noun

1. the act of grasping; a seizing and holding fast; firm grasp.
2. the power of gripping:

   He has a strong grip.

3. a grasp, hold, or control.
4. mental or intellectual hold:

   to have a good grip on a problem.

5. competence or firmness in dealing with situations in one's work or personal affairs:

   The boss is old and is losing his grip.

6. a special mode of clasping hands:

   Members of the club use the secret grip.

7. something that seizes and holds, as a clutching device on a cable car.
8. a handle or hilt:

   That knife has a very unusual grip.

9. a sudden, sharp pain; spasm of pain.
10. grippe.
11. Older Use. a small traveling bag.
12. 1. Theater. a stagehand, especially one who works on the stage floor.
    2. Movies, Television. a general assistant available on a film set for shifting scenery, moving furniture, etc.

verb (used with object)

, gripped or gript, grip·ping.

1. to grasp or seize firmly; hold fast:

   We gripped the sides of the boat as the waves tossed us about.

2. to take hold on; hold the interest of:

   to grip the mind.

   Synonyms: fascinate, hold, rivet, attract, impress

3. to attach by a grip or clutch.

verb (used without object)

, gripped or gript, grip·ping.

1. to take firm hold; hold fast.
2. to take hold on the mind.

grip

¹

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

1. med a variant spelling of grippe

grip

²

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

1. the act or an instance of grasping and holding firmly

   he lost his grip on the slope

2. Also calledhandgrip the strength or pressure of such a grasp, as in a handshake

   a feeble grip

3. the style or manner of grasping an object, such as a tennis racket
4. understanding, control, or mastery of a subject, problem, etc (esp in such phrases as get or have a grip on )
5. Also calledhandgrip a part by which an object is grasped; handle
6. Also calledhandgrip a travelling bag or holdall
7. See hairgrip
8. any device that holds by friction, such as certain types of brake
9. a method of clasping or shaking hands used by members of secret societies to greet or identify one another
10. a spasm of pain

    a grip in one's stomach

11. a worker in a camera crew or a stagehand who shifts sets and props, etc
12. a small drainage channel cut above an excavation to conduct surface water away from the excavation
13. get to grips or come to grips
    often foll by with
    1. to deal with (a problem or subject)
    2. to tackle (an assailant)

verb

1. to take hold of firmly or tightly, as by a clutch
2. to hold the interest or attention of

   to grip an audience

Derived Forms

• ˈgrippingly, adverb
• ˈgripper, noun

Other Words From

• gripless adjective
• re·grip verb regripped or regript regripping
• un·grip verb ungripped ungripping

Word History and Origins

Origin of grip¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English gripe “grasp” (noun); cognate with German Griff, Old English gripa “handful”; gripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of grip¹

Old English gripe grasp; related to Old Norse gripr property, Old High German grif

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. come to grips with,
   1. to encounter; meet; cope with:

      She had never come to grips with such a situation before.

   2. to deal with directly or firmly:

      We didn't come to grips with the real problem.

More idioms and phrases containing grip

see come to grips with ; get a grip on ; lose one's grip .

Example Sentences

You get a bevel range of up to 45 degrees and the horizontal handle and clamping system helps you get a good grip on your lumber as you cut down.

From Popular-Science

Pitchers use the detailed images to refine pitch grips to optimize movement.

From FiveThirtyEight

Researchers have now used creative cuts to help shoes get a grip.

From Science News For Students

The new high, which smashes that 32-year record, comes on the heels of a historically hot May around the globe, and especially in Siberia, which is in the grips of an ongoing heat wave.

From Science News

The most sensitive experiment will be the first to run into the unexpected, and XENON continues to maintain a solid grip on that prized pole position.

From Quanta Magazine

Hillary retains an iron grip on second place for the Democratic presidential nomination.

From The Daily Beast

And why did the Western Powers lose their grip in such a spectacular fashion in the decade following the end of the war?

From The Daily Beast

“They think Putin is the only evil in Russia and dream about getting rid of him,” he said, tightening his grip on the wheel.

From The Daily Beast

How is he dealing with both parts of his life escaping his grip?

From The Daily Beast

Tamaulipas is notorious as a state caught in the iron grip of organized crime.

From The Daily Beast

As men fixed in the grip of nightmare, we were powerless—unable to do anything but wait.

From Project Gutenberg

Their glances met, she holding him always at arm's length by that grip upon his shoulders, a grip that was firm and nervous.

From Project Gutenberg

But the grip was immovable, and he found himself staring into the unemotional face of Seton Pasha.

From Project Gutenberg

Pattison leaned over the door at the front of the car, and brought out a big leather grip.

From Project Gutenberg

His attitude was somewhat devil-may-care, his grip on life itself seemed slipping.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fascinate
• mesmerize
• rivet