grasping Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun understanding with difficulty
   
   • the lecture was beyond his most strenuous graspings
2. noun the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)
   seizing; prehension; taking hold.
   
3. verb hold firmly
   grasp; hold on.
   
4. verb get the meaning of something
   grok; apprehend; dig; comprehend; grasp; compass; savvy; get the picture.
   
   • Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?
5. adjective satellite immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
   covetous; prehensile; greedy; avaricious; grabby.
   
   • they are avaricious and will do anything for money
   • casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields
   • a grasping old miser
   • grasping commercialism
   • greedy for money and power
   • grew richer and greedier
   • prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees

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