Adjacent Words

grapple definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope [syn: grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling hook, grappling iron]
2: a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam [syn: clamshell, grapple]
3: the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully" [syn: wrestle, wrestling, grapple, grappling, hand-to-hand struggle] v
1: come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" [syn: cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage]
2: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men grappled with each other for several minutes" [syn: grapple, grip]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English grappel grappling hook, from Old French *grappelle, diminutive of grape hook — more at grape Date: 1601 1. a. the act or an instance of grappling b. a hand-to-hand struggle c. a contest for superiority or mastery 2. a bucket similar to a clamshell but usually having more jaws II. verb (grappled; grappling) Date: 1530 transitive verb 1. to seize with or as if with a grapple 2. to come to grips with ; wrestle 3. to bind closely intransitive verb 1. to make a ship fast with a grappling hook 2. to come to grips 3. to use a grapple • grappler noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by with) fight at close quarters or in close combat. 2 intr. (foll. by with) try to manage or overcome a difficult problem etc. 3 tr. a grip with the hands; come to close quarters with. b seize with or as with a grapnel; grasp. --n. 1 a a hold or grip in or as in wrestling. b a contest at close quarters. 2 a clutching-instrument; a grapnel. Phrases and idioms: grappling-iron (or -hook) = GRAPNEL. Derivatives: grappler n. Etymology: OF grapil (n.) f. Prov., dimin. of grapa hook (as GRAPNEL)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Grapple Grap"ple, v. i. To use a grapple; to contend in close fight; to attach one's self as if by a grapple, as in wrestling; to close; to seize one another. To grapple with, to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously. And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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 at close quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist. 2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly. The gallies were grappled to the Centurion. --Hakluyt. Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. 2. (a) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a grab. (b) (Naut.) A grappling iron. The iron hooks and grapples keen. --Spenser. Grapple plant (Bot.), a South African herb (Herpagophytum leptocarpum) having the woody fruits armed with long hooked or barbed thorns by which they adhere to cattle, causing intense annoyance. Grapple shot (Life-saving Service), a projectile, to which are attached hinged claws to catch in a ship's rigging or to hold in the ground; -- called also anchor shot.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(grapples, grappling, grappled) 1. If you grapple with a problem or difficulty, you try hard to solve it. The economy is just one of several critical problems the country is grappling with. = wrestle VERB: V with n 2. If you grapple with someone, you take hold of them and struggle with them, as part of a fight. You can also say that two people grapple. He was grappling with an alligator in a lagoon... They grappled desperately for control of the weapon. V-RECIP: V with n, pl-n V

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. Seize, gripe or grip, grasp, catch, clasp, clutch, lay hold of. II. n. 1. Close hug, close fight. 2. Grappling-irons.

Moby Thesaurus

abduct, adhere to, affix, anchor, annex, attach, battle, bear hug, belay, bite, box, brawl, broil, carry off, catch, cement, cinch, clamp, clash, clasp, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, close, clutch, collide, combat, come to blows, contend, contend with, contest, cope with, cramp, cut and thrust, deal with, death grip, duel, embrace, engraft, exchange blows, face, fasten, fence, feud, fight, fight a duel, firm hold, fix, foothold, footing, freeze to, give and take, give satisfaction, grab, graft, grapple with, grasp, grip, gripe, hang on, hang on to, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hug, iron grip, jostle, joust, keep hold of, kidnap, knit, make fast, mix it up, moor, nab, nail, never let go, nip, purchase, put to, quarrel, rassle, riot, run a tilt, scramble, screw up, scuffle, secure, seize, seizure, set, set to, shanghai, skirmish, snatch, spar, stick to, strive, struggle, struggle with, tackle, take, take on, tenure, throttle, thrust and parry, tight grip, tighten, tilt, toehold, tourney, trice up, trim, tussle, wage war, war, wrestle