GRASPING

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grasping mean? 

• GRASPING (noun)
  The noun GRASPING has 2 senses:

1. understanding with difficulty
2. the act of gripping something firmly with the hands

  Familiarity information: GRASPING used as a noun is rare.

• GRASPING (adjective)
  The adjective GRASPING has 1 sense:

1. immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

  Familiarity information: GRASPING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRASPING (noun)

Meaning:

Understanding with difficulty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

the lecture was beyond his most strenuous graspings

Hypernyms ("grasping" is a kind of...):

apprehension; discernment; savvy; understanding (the cognitive condition of someone who understands)

Meaning:

The act of gripping something firmly with the hands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

prehension; taking hold; grasping; seizing

Hypernyms ("grasping" is a kind of...):

control (the activity of managing or exerting control over something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grasping"):

clasp; clench; clutch; clutches; grasp; grip; hold (the act of grasping)

• GRASPING (adjective)

Meaning:

Immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

Synonyms:

greedy; grasping; grabby; avaricious; covetous; prehensile

Context examples:

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

Similar:

acquisitive (eager to acquire and possess things especially material possessions or ideas)