grip Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the act of grasping
clutches; clutch; clench; grasp; hold; clasp.
- he released his clasp on my arm
- he has a strong grip for an old man
- she kept a firm hold on the railing
noun the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
hold; handgrip; handle.
- he grabbed the hammer by the handle
- it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip
noun a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes
bag; traveling bag; travelling bag; suitcase.
- he carried his small bag onto the plane with him
noun the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road)
traction; adhesive friction.
noun worker who moves the camera around while a film or television show is being made
noun an intellectual hold or understanding
grasp.
- a good grip on French history
- they kept a firm grip on the two top priorities
- he was in the grip of a powerful emotion
- a terrible power had her in its grasp
noun a flat wire hairpin whose prongs press tightly together; used to hold bobbed hair in place
hairgrip; bobby pin.
- in Britain they call a bobby pin a grip
verb hold fast or firmly
- He gripped the steering wheel
verb to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match
grapple.
- the two men grappled with each other for several minutes
verb to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
spellbind; fascinate; transfix.
- The snake charmer fascinates the cobra

L. gryps, gryphus. See Griffin, Grype.

Cf. AS. grip furrow, hitch, D. greb.

AS. gripe. Cf. Grip, v. t., Gripe, v. t.

An energetic or tenacious grasp; a holding fast; strength in grasping.
A peculiar mode of clasping the hand, by which members of a secret association recognize or greet, one another; as, a masonic grip.
That by which anything is grasped; a handle or gripe; as, the grip of a sword.
A device for grasping or holding fast to something.

From Grip a grasp; or P. gripper to seize; -- of German origin. See Gripe, v. t.