grip

American  

[grip] / grɪp /

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.

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verb (used with object)

gripped, gript, gripping

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, gript, gripping

1. to take firm hold; hold fast.

2. to take hold on the mind.

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.

grip ¹ British  

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

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

   he lost his grip on the slope

2. Also called: handgrip.  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 called: handgrip.  a part by which an object is grasped; handle

6. Also called: handgrip.  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. (often foll by with)

    1. to deal with (a problem or subject)

    2. to tackle (an assailant)

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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

grip ² British  

/ ɡrɪp /

noun

1. med a variant spelling of grippe

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grip More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

• gripless adjective
• gripper noun
• grippingly adverb
• regrip verb
• ungrip verb

Etymology

Origin of grip

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

Example Sentences

Plus, gloves, helmets, elbow guards, leg protectors, arm sleeves, sliding mitts, cleats, turf shoes, the coolest sunglasses, Bruce Bolt batting gloves, fluorescent batting grips, socks, pants, belts and garments known simply as “ice-cream shorts.”

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the men who had been carrying the stone lost his grip and dropped it.

From BBC

It’s telling that while Mr. Deakins takes pains to praise his longtime gaffer, key grip, dolly grip, best boy and more, he never bothers to define those roles for the lay reader.

From The Wall Street Journal

Would anybody be surprised if the weekend ended with the momentum of a twisting-and-turning title race - which many regard as the continent's most gripping - swinging in a different direction?

From BBC

Richards and fellow guitarist Ronnie Wood were apparently trying to scramble towards the coconuts when he lost his grip and tumbled 15 feet to the ground, hitting his head.

From BBC

Related Words

• control
• domination
• grasp
• influence