grap|ple

grap|ple
grap|ple «GRAP uhl», verb, -pled, -pling, noun.
–v.t.
1. to seize and hold fast; grip or hold firmly: »

The dog grappled the thief's leg in his jaws, pulling the thief to the ground.

SYNONYM(S): grasp, clinch.
2. to fasten with a grapple; attach firmly: »

Figurative. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel (Shakespeare).

3. to come to close quarters with.
–v.i.
1. to struggle; fight: »

The wrestlers grappled in the center of the ring.

SYNONYM(S): wrestle.
2. Figurative. to try to overcome, solve, or deal with; contend (with): »

He grappled with the problem for an hour before he solved it. In particular, they have been reluctant to grapple with two essential elements of the disarmament program (New York Times).

 SYNONYM(S): wrestle.
3. to search with a grapnel or grappling hook.
–n.
1. the act of seizing and holding fast; firm grip or hold: »

The dog's grapple held the bone fast between his teeth.

2. an iron bar with hooks at one end for seizing and holding fast an object; grappling hook; grapnel.
3. the act of grappling; struggle: »

Figurative. His life…has been a grope for, and grapple with, the English language (Saturday Evening Post).

╂[< Old French grapil hook; see etym. under grapnel (Cf. ↑grapnel)]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • grap·ple — …   Useful english dictionary

  • grap — grap·ery; grap·nel; grap·pa; grap·pi·er; grap·pler; grap·sid; grap·si·dae; grap·sus; grap·to·lite; grap·to·lith·i·da; grap·to·li·thi·na; grap·to·li·toi·dea; grap·to·zoa; mono·grap·tus; se·le·no·grap·hic; grap·ple; grap·soid; mono·grap·tid; …   English syllables

  • ple — ple·iad; ple·i·dae; ple·na·ri·ly; ple·nar·ty; ple·na·ry; ple·ne; ple·ni·lune; ple·nip·o·tence; ple·nip·o·tent; ple·nist; ple·o·chro·ic; ple·och·ro·ism; ple·och·ro·ous; ple·o·cy·to·sis; ple·o·dont; ple·o·mas·tia; ple·o·ma·zia; ple·o·me·tro·sis;… …   English syllables

  • grapple — grap·ple …   English syllables

  • grapple — grap•ple [[t]ˈgræp əl[/t]] v. pled, pling, n. 1) to hold or make fast to something, as with a grapple 2) to engage in a struggle or close encounter: wrestlers grappling[/ex] 3) to try to overcome or deal: to grapple with a problem[/ex] 4) to… …   From formal English to slang

  • grapple — grap|ple [ˈgræpəl] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: grappelle, from grape; GRAPE] to fight or struggle with someone, holding them tightly = ↑wrestle grapple with ▪ Two men grappled with a guard at the door. grapple with [grapple with… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • grapple — grap|ple [ græpl ] verb intransitive to fight with someone: The argument led to them grappling on the floor. grapple ,with phrasal verb transitive grapple with something to try hard to understand a difficult idea or solve a difficult problem: The …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • anchor shot — Grapple Grap ple, n. [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.] 1. A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler s hold. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. (a) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Engrapple — En*grap ple, v. t. & i. To grapple. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grapple — Grap ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Grappled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Grappling}.] [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a ship, fr. graper to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German origin. See {Grape}.] 1. To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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