grasp

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To take hold of or seize firmly with or as if with the hand.
2. v. To clasp firmly with or as if with the hand.
3. v. To take hold of intellectually; comprehend. See Synonyms at apprehend.
4. v. To make a motion of seizing, snatching, or clutching.
5. v. To show eager and prompt willingness or acceptance: grasps at any opportunity.
6. n. The act of grasping.
7. n. A firm hold or grip.
8. n. An embrace.
9. n. The ability or power to seize or attain; reach: Victory in the election was within her grasp.
10. n. Understanding; comprehension: "only a vague intuitive grasp of the meaning of greatness in literature” ( Gilbert Highet).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms.
2. To seize upon; take possession of.
3. To seize by the intellect; become thoroughly cognizant of; comprehend.
4. To make a grasp, or the motion of grasping; seize something firmly or eagerly.
5. n. A grip or seizure by the hand; the act of taking or attempting to take hold of something.
6. n. Power of seizing and holding; forcible possession.
7. n. Power of the intellect to seize and comprehend subjects; wide-reaching power of comprehension.

Wiktionary

1. v. To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.
2. v. To understand.
3. n. grip
4. n. understanding
5. n. that which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of.
2. v. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.
3. v. To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to clutch; to struggle; to strive.
4. n. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or infolding in the arms.
5. n. Reach of the arms; hence, the power of seizing and holding.
6. n. Forcible possession; hold.
7. n. Wide-reaching power of intellect to comprehend subjects and hold them under survey.
8. n. The handle of a sword or of an oar.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. hold firmly
2. v. get the meaning of something
3. n. the act of grasping
4. n. an intellectual hold or understanding
5. n. understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something
6. n. the limit of capability