grip */*/

I UK [ɡrɪp] / US noun
Word forms "grip":
singular grip plural grips

1)

a) [singular] a firm strong hold

Marguerite took my hand in a surprisingly strong grip.

tighten your grip:

Pete tightened his grip on her arm.

release/loosen your grip:

She loosened her grip on the steering-wheel.

b) [singular/uncountable] if shoes or tyres have grip, they hold a surface firmly and so do not slip

I need some winter boots with a better grip.

2) [singular] power and control over someone or something

grip on:

The President struggled to regain his grip on power.

The church no longer has a strong grip on the population.

3) [countable] British a small thin piece of folded metal that women use for holding their hair in place

4) [countable] the part of an object that has a special rough surface that you can hold firmly in your hands

5) [countable] cinema someone whose job is to move cameras around while television programmes or films are being made

6) [countable] old-fashioned a small bag that you use when travelling

•

get a grip (on yourself) — spoken to make an effort to control your emotions or your behaviour

For goodness' sake, get a grip on yourself.

get/come to grips with something — to start to deal with a problem, situation, or job that you have to do

So far we have failed to come to grips with the magnitude of this problem.

lose your grip (on something) — to become less able to understand things or deal with them

Are you starting to lose your grip on reality?

- be in the grip of something

- get a grip on something

II UK [ɡrɪp] / US verb
Word forms "grip":
present tense I/you/we/they grip he/she/it grips present participle gripping past tense gripped past participle gripped

1)

a) [transitive] to hold something tightly

She gripped Frank's hand firmly to show her support.

Although the car was stationary, his hands were still gripping the wheel.

b) [intransitive/transitive] if shoes or tyres grip, they hold a surface firmly and so do not slip

2) [transitive] to have a strong effect on someone

A feeling of fear gripped the crowd.

Britain was still gripped by recession.

3) [transitive] to keep someone very interested in something

The case has gripped the public because of the celebrities involved.