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grapple definition

grap·ple (grap′əl)

noun

  1. grapnel
  2. a device consisting of two or more hinged, movable iron prongs for grasping and moving heavy objects
  3. a coming to grips; hand-to-hand fight

Etymology: OFr grapil: see grapnel

transitive verb grappled grap′·pled, grappling grap′·pling

to grip and hold; seize

intransitive verb

  1. to use a grapnel
  2. to struggle in hand-to-hand combat; wrestle
  3. to struggle or try to cope (with) to grapple with a problem

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

grapple Synonyms

grapple

v.

  1. Fasten

    hook, catch, close; see fasten 1, join 1.

  2. Fight hand to hand

    engage, close, wrestle; see fight 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

grapple Usage Examples

Object

  • move: There are three grapple moves to earn in the bonus missions too.

Preposition: with

  • issue: However, the report says China has to grapple with some issues.

Preposition: for

  • cable: To-night we grapple for the heavy cable, eight tons to the mile.

Infinitive complement

  • make: As people of faith we grapple to make sense of a good God in the middle of it all.

Modifying Another Word

  • currently: More than 31 countries currently grapple with a " chronic " water shortage.
grapple usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"grapple." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/grapple>

APA Style

grapple. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/grapple

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