grip 1  (gr ĭp)
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n.1. a. A tight hold; a firm grasp: a drowning swimmer now safely in the grip of a lifeguard. b. The pressure or strength of such a grasp: a wrestler with an unmatched grip. c. A manner of grasping and holding: The crate afforded no comfortable grip. 2. a. Intellectual hold; understanding: a good grip on French history. b. Ability to function properly or well; competence: getting a grip on the new technique. c. Mental or emotional composure: lost his grip after he was fired. 3. a. A mechanical device that grasps and holds. b. A part, such as a handle, that is designed to be grasped and held. 4. A suitcase or valise. 5. a. A stagehand who helps in shifting scenery. b. A member of a film production crew who adjusts sets, lighting, and props and sometimes assists the camera operator. v. gripped, grip·ping, grips v.tr.1. To secure and maintain a tight hold on; seize firmly. 2. To hold the interest or attention of: a scene that gripped the entire audience. v.intr. To maintain a secure grasp.
[Middle English, from Old English gripe, grasp and gripa, handful.]
gripper n. gripping·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
grip 2  (gr ĭp)
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
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