grapple
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grap·ple
(grăp′əl)n.
1.
a. An iron shaft with claws at one end, usually thrown by a rope and used for grasping and holding, especially one for drawing and holding an enemy ship alongside. Also called grapnel, grappling, grappling hook, grappling iron.
b. See grapnel.
2. Any of various grasping devices having hinged tines or jaws that close around an object or load, used especially in lifting or dragging heavy items.
3. The act of grappling.
4.
a. A struggle or contest in which the participants attempt to wrestle with each other by clutching or gripping.
b. A struggle for superiority or dominance.
v. grap·pled, grap·pling, grap·ples
v.tr.
1. To seize and hold with a grapple: grappled the prow of the ship.
2. To seize firmly with the hands: "Jules ... grappled the backpack chained over the back of Izzy's bike and began scrabbling through it" (Bella Bathurst).
v.intr.
1. To hold onto something with a grapple: "The 150-odd ships closed and grappled, initiating the most important naval battle of the Hundred Years' War" (Clifford J. Rogers).
2. To use a grapple or similar device, as for dragging.
3.
a. To wrestle with an opponent by clutching or gripping.
b. To struggle or work hard to deal with something: grappled with their consciences; grapple with the political realities of our time.
[Middle English grapel, from Old French grapil, diminutive of grape, hook; see grape.]
grap′pler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
grapple
(ˈɡræpəl)vb
1. to come to grips with (one or more persons), esp to struggle in hand-to-hand combat
2. (foll by: with) to cope or contend: to grapple with a financial problem.
3. (Tools) (tr) to secure with a grapple
n
4. (Tools) any form of hook or metal instrument by which something is secured, such as a grapnel
5.
a. the act of gripping or seizing, as in wrestling
b. a grip or hold
6. a contest of grappling, esp a wrestling match
[C16: from Old French grappelle a little hook, from grape hook; see grapnel]
ˈgrappler n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
grap•ple
(ˈgræp əl)v. -pled, -pling,
n. v.i.
1. to hold or make fast to something, as with a grapple.
2. to engage in a struggle or close encounter: wrestlers grappling.
3. to try to overcome or deal: to grapple with a problem.
v.t. 4. to seize or hold with or as if with a grapple.
n. 6. a seizing or gripping.
7. a grip or close hold.
8. a hand-to-hand fight.
[1520–30; appar. a frequentative of Old English gegrǣppian to seize; associated with grapnel]
grap′pler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
grapple
Past participle: grappled
Gerund: grappling
| Imperative |
|---|
| grapple |
| grapple |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  grapple - a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a ropetool - an implement used in the practice of a vocation |
| 2. | grapple - a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam dredging bucket - a bucket for lifting material from a channel or riverbed | |
| 3. |  grapple - the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully"struggle - strenuous effort; "the struggle to get through the crowd exhausted her" | |
| Verb | 1. | grapple - come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel" extemporize, improvise - manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand; "after the hurricane destroyed our house, we had to improvise for weeks" fend - try to manage without help; "The youngsters had to fend for themselves after their parents died" hack, cut - be able to manage or manage successfully; "I can't hack it anymore"; "she could not cut the long days in the office" rub along, scrape along, scrape by, scratch along, squeak by, squeeze by - manage one's existence barely; "I guess I can squeeze by on this lousy salary" |
| 2. | grapple - to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men grappled with each other for several minutes" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
grapple
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
grapple
nounverb1. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَصارَع مع، يَتَعامَليَشْتَبِك مَع ، يَمسك ويُقاتِل
zabývat sezápasit s
kæmpeslåstumle
dulakodik
glíma/kljást viîkljást viî
susigrumtisusikibti
cīnītiessaķerties
pochytiť sa
boğuşmaktutuşmakuğraşmak
grapple
[ˈgræpl]A. VI [wrestlers etc] → luchar cuerpo a cuerpo (with con) to grapple with a problem (fig) → confrontar un problema
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
grapple
[ˈgræpəl] vi to grapple with sth [+ problem] → être aux prises avec qch
(= struggle) to grapple with sb → lutter avec qngrappling iron n → grappin m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
grapple
n = grappling iron
vi (lit) → ringen, kämpfen; to grapple with a problem/situation → sich mit einem Problem/einer Situation herumschlagen; the wrestlers grappled with each other → die Ringer hielten sich in enger Umklammerung
vt → festhaken; enemy boat → die Enterhaken verwenden bei; the boats were grappled together → die Boote waren durch Haken verbunden
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
grapple
[ˈgræpl] vi (wrestlers) to grapple (with) → essere alle prese (con), lottare (con)to grapple with a problem (fig) → essere alle prese con un problema
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
grapple
(ˈgrӕpl) verb (with with).
1. to grasp and fight with. He grappled with the thief.
2. to (try to) deal with (a problem etc). He enjoys grappling with riddles.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.