grip
/ɡrɪp
/verb (grips, gripping, gripped) [with object]
1Take and keep a firm hold of; grasp tightly: his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel...
- Her shoulders were straight and she was gripping her purse rather tightly, looking extremely strained.
- He sat straight as his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
- He grabbed her wrists and gripped them tightly.
Synonyms
grasp, clutch, hold, clasp, grasp/take/lay hold of, latch on to, grab, seize, clench, cling to, catch, catch at, get one's hands on, pluck;
squeeze, press
archaic gripe
1.1 [no object] Maintain a firm contact, especially by friction: a sole that really grips well on wet rock...
- It grips very well, making driving around those twisty B-roads a real pleasure.
- Combine that with little weight over the wheels, tyres that need to warm up before they grip properly and a wet road and things can get very - er - interesting.
- Tyres fail to grip when brakes are applied and contact with the road surface is poor.
2(Of an emotion or situation) have a strong or adverse effect on: she was gripped by a feeling of excitement the country was gripped by recession...
- Sudden fear gripped her and almost overwhelmed the suffering her body was experiencing, but wonder and joy quickly replaced this.
- A sense of sorrow and outrage has gripped this multiracial community.
- Here, Ben details the hysteria and fear gripping Hong Kong, a small taste of which spread to Southampton's Chinese community this week.
Synonyms
afflict, affect, take over, beset, rack, torment, convulse
2.1Firmly hold the attention or interest of: we were gripped by the drama...
- This is a compelling, human story that has really gripped the attention of a lot of people.
- Their exploits gripped the country's attention and were written about in countless articles and books.
- But it is this November's presidential election which will grip global attention as never before.
Synonyms
engross, enthral, entrance, absorb, rivet, spellbind, hold spellbound, bewitch, fascinate, hold, catch, compel, mesmerize, arrest, ensnare, enrapture;
interest, intrigue, engage, distract, divert, entertain, amuse
engrossing, enthralling, entrancing, absorbing, riveting, captivating, spellbinding, bewitching, fascinating, compulsive, addictive, compelling, mesmerizing, arresting;
thrilling, exciting, action-packed, dramatic, stimulating;
interesting, engaging, distracting, diverting, entertaining, amusing
informal unputdownable
noun
1 [in singular] A firm hold; a tight grasp: his arm was held in a vice-like grip figurative the icy grip of winter...
- Suddenly his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip, tight and painful.
- Winter is keeping a firm grip on the South Island as snow isolates Dunedin for the second time in a week and restricts travel around the lower part of the country.
- Vicki turned to go and suddenly felt a tight grip on her arm.
Synonyms
grasp, hold, clutch, clasp, clench
archaic gripe
handshake, hand grip, hand clasp
1.1A manner of holding something: I’ve changed my grip and my backswing...
- Hinge the club slightly in the backswing, then allow the grip to serve as a reminder to hold that position past impact.
- A weak grip causes the clubface to open during the backswing and remain open in the downswing.
- The problem was not pain but the peculiar feeling of an unfamiliar grip, especially at the top of the backswing.
1.2 [mass noun] The ability of something, especially a wheel or shoe, to maintain a firm contact with a surface: these shoes have got no grip...
- The wheels rarely scrabble for grip even on the most treacherous surfaces.
- It also allows for more pattern contact to improve uphill grip without reducing glide.
- Some of my leather shoes had absolutely no grip.
Synonyms
traction, purchase, friction, adhesion, resistance
2 [in singular] Effective control over something: he had to take a grip on his nerves...
- They had another fine opportunity to take an early lead shortly afterwards as the home side failed to take a grip on the match.
- My nutritionist advised that in order to be in optimum health for conceiving a baby, I must take a grip on my addiction.
- Can there be a greater temptation for politicians than to have control of an asset that may ensure they keep a grip on power?
Synonyms
control, power, mastery, hold, stranglehold, clutches, domination, dominion, command, influence, possession;
rule, tyranny, evil embrace
2.1An understanding of something: you’ve got a good grip on what’s going on...
- So it's essential to have a grip, a clear understanding, of what your values and priorities are.
- They have a reasonably good grip on the philosophy of science - far better than my own, anyway.
- In your pathetic grip on socializing and pitiful understanding of how to present yourself, you will always be five steps behind everyone else.
Synonyms
understanding of, comprehension of, perception of, awareness of, grasp of, apprehension of, conception of, realization of, knowledge of, cognizance of, ken of, mastery of, command of;
insight into, familiarity with
3A part or attachment by which something is held in the hand: handlebar grips...
- The little guy managed to sidestep the front of the bike but got winged in the gut by one of the handlebar grips.
- In keeping with the gun's modular component design, other types of buttstocks and grips can he attached if desired.
- It had wide, angular handle bars; edgy, rubber hand grips; and fat tires with treads!
3.1British A hairgrip.Conceal the grips by pushing them right underneath the roll....
- Volumes of spidery dressed hair piled up around a seashell grip.
- She was pulling grips out of her hair and sticking them between her lips, biting them with her bright white teeth.
4A travelling bag: a grip crammed with new clothes...
- He has with him a grip containing clothing and papers.
- A policeman captured a burglar yesterday afternoon just in time to prevent his escaping with a grip containing part of the $1,000 haul made at a robbery on Saturday.
- He brought along a grip filled with a suit of extra clothing.
Synonyms
travelling bag, bag, holdall, overnight bag, overnighter, flight bag, kitbag, Gladstone bag, valise, portmanteau
5A stagehand in a theatre.I am a grip and lighting designer working in the DC area....
- U.S. grips may belong to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes.
Synonyms
stagehand, theatrical assistant
5.1A member of a camera crew responsible for moving and setting up equipment.He is brushing shoulders with some of Britain's best-loved actors, working as a camera grip with ITV Yorkshire....
- The biggest special effect in that film was accomplished by two grips pushing a 2x4 against a plywood door to make it bow in.
- Damian gave up surfing and fine art to study film making in New York City, where he worked as a grip for several years.
Phrases
come (or get) to grips with
get a grip
in the grip of
lose one's grip
Derivatives
gripper
/ noun ...- Miss Burns said they could provide garbage grippers, bags and high-visibility bibs to anyone interested in litter picking.
- Throughout this process, the robots constantly update each other about payload forces and motions as felt at their respective grippers.
- But he notes that it would be fairly easy to add modules with grippers, cameras, or other specialized equipment.
Origin
Old English grippa (verb), gripe 'grasp, clutch' (noun), gripa 'handful, sheath'; related to gripe.