grip

/grɪp/

/grɪp/

Other forms: gripped; gripping; grips; gript

To grip something is to hold it firmly. You might grip the TV remote to keep your roommate from trying to change the channel.

When you want to hold on to something, you grip it. If your hands are strong and you can hold things well, you have a good grip. Grip is also the roughness or texture of something. A steering wheel has good grip if your hands don't slip while driving. This word can be also be used figuratively. If you’re upset, your friend might tell you to “get a grip” — that is, get a hold of yourself.

Definitions of grip

1. verb

   hold fast or firmly
   “He gripped the steering wheel”

   types:

   bite, seize with teeth

   to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws

   nip, pinch, squeeze, tweet, twinge, twitch

   squeeze tightly between the fingers

   gnaw

   bite or chew on with the teeth

   bite off, snap at

   bite off with a quick bite

   snap

   bring the jaws together

   nibble

   bite gently

   nip

   give a small sharp bite to

   nibble

   bite off very small pieces

   goose

   pinch in the buttocks

   tweak

   pinch or squeeze sharply

   type of:

   clutch, prehend, seize

   take hold of; grab
2. verb

   grip or seize, as in a wrestling match
   synonyms: grapple

   type of:

   clutch, prehend, seize

   take hold of; grab
3. noun

   the act of grasping
   “he has a strong grip for an old man”

   synonyms: clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, hold

   types:

   choke hold, chokehold

   a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind

   embrace, embracement, embracing

   the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)

   wrestling hold

   a hold used in the sport of wrestling

   cuddle, nestle, snuggle

   a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace

   clinch, hug, squeeze

   a tight or amorous embrace

   bear hug

   a wrestling hold with arms locked tightly around the opponent

   nelson

   any of several wrestling holds in which an arm is passed under the opponent's arm from behind and the hand exerts pressure on the back of the neck

   Japanese stranglehold

   a wrestling hold in which the opponent's arms are crossed in front of his own neck to exert pressure on his windpipe

   lock

   any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured

   scissor grip, scissor hold, scissors, scissors grip, scissors hold

   a wrestling hold in which you wrap your legs around the opponents body or head and put your feet together and squeeze

   stranglehold

   a wrestling hold in which the arms are pressed against the opponent's windpipe

   toehold

   a wrestling hold in which the toe is held and the leg is twisted against the joints

   type of:

   grasping, prehension, seizing, taking hold

   the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)
4. noun

   the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it
   “it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip”

   synonyms: handgrip, handle, hold

   types:

   ax handle, axe handle

   the handle of an ax

   broom handle, broomstick

   the handle of a broom

   crop

   the stock or handle of a whip

   haft, helve

   the handle of a weapon or tool

   hilt

   the handle of a sword or dagger

   hoe handle

   the handle of a hoe

   knob

   a round handle

   mop handle

   the handle of a mop

   panhandle

   the handle of a pan

   pommel, saddlebow

   handgrip formed by the raised front part of a saddle

   pommel

   a handgrip that a gymnast uses when performing exercises on a pommel horse

   rake handle

   the handle of a rake

   stock

   the handle end of some implements or tools

   gunstock, stock

   the handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gun

   basket hilt

   a hilt with a basket-shaped guard for the hand

   bitstock, brace

   a carpenter's tool having a crank handle for turning and a socket to hold a bit for boring

   butt, butt end

   thick end of the handle

   doorhandle, doorknob

   a knob used to release the catch when opening a door (often called `doorhandle' in Great Britain)

   horn, saddle horn

   a high pommel of a Western saddle (usually metal covered with leather)

   pistol grip

   a handle (as of a gun or saw) shaped like the butt of a pistol

   stop

   (music) a knob on an organ that is pulled to change the sound quality from the organ pipes

   type of:

   appendage

   a part that is joined to something larger
5. noun

   the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road)
   synonyms: adhesive friction, traction

   type of:

   friction, rubbing

   the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
6. noun

   a flat wire hairpin whose prongs press tightly together; used to hold bobbed hair in place
   synonyms: bobby pin, hairgrip

   type of:

   hairpin

   a double pronged pin used to hold women's hair in place
7. verb

   render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
   synonyms: fascinate, spellbind, transfix

   type of:

   interest

   excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
8. noun

   an intellectual hold or understanding
   “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”

   synonyms: grasp

   types:

   tentacle

   something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold

   type of:

   influence

   a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
9. noun

   a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes
   synonyms: bag, suitcase, traveling bag, travelling bag

   types:

   carpetbag

   traveling bag made of carpet; widely used in 19th century

   garment bag

   a suitcase that unfolds to be hung up

   gripsack

   a small suitcase

   overnight bag, overnight case, overnighter

   a small traveling bag to carry clothing and accessories for staying overnight

   Gladstone, Gladstone bag, portmanteau

   a large travelling bag made of stiff leather

   weekender

   a small suitcase to carry clothing and accessories for a weekend trip

   valise

   a small overnight bag for short trips

   type of:

   baggage, luggage

   cases used to carry belongings when traveling
10. noun

    worker who moves the camera around while a film or television show is being made
    type of:

    skilled worker, skilled workman, trained worker

    a worker who has acquired special skills