Grapple meaning

grăp'əl
Grapple is defined as to struggle with something or someone.

An example of grapple is when two kids get into a fight over a ball, with each struggling to get control.

An example of grapple is when you are struggling with making a difficult decision.

verb
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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.
noun
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The act of grappling.
noun
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To seize and hold with a grapple.

Grappled the prow of the ship.

verb
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To seize firmly with the hands.
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To hold onto something with a grapple.
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noun
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A device consisting of two or more hinged, movable iron prongs for grasping and moving heavy objects.
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A coming to grips; hand-to-hand fight.
noun
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To grip and hold; seize.
verb
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To use a grapnel.
verb
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To struggle in hand-to-hand combat; wrestle.
verb
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To struggle or try to cope (with)

To grapple with a problem.

verb
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To seize something and hold it firmly.
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(figuratively) To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; normally used with "with".
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(intransitive) To use a grapple.
verb
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(intransitive) To wrestle or tussle.
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To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
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(nautical) A device consisting of iron claws, attached to the end of a rope, used for grasping and holding an enemy ship prior to boarding; a grapnel or grappling iron.
noun
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(uncountable) The act of grappling.
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noun
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To use a grapple or similar device, as for dragging.
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Origin of grapple

  • Middle English grapel from Old French grapil diminutive of grape hook grape
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“to seize”) (compare Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”)), from Proto-Germanic *graipilōną, *grabbalōną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *ghreb(h)-, *ghrab(h)- (“to take, seize, rake”). Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”), German grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”). Influenced in some senses by grapple (“hook”, noun) (see below). More at grasp.
    From Wiktionary
  • From Middle English *grapple, *graple, from Old French grappil (“a ship's grapple”) (compare Old French grappin (“hook”)), from Old French grape, grappe, crape (“hook”), of Germanic origin, from Old Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Germanic *krappô, *krappą (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). More at grape.
    From Wiktionary

Grapple Sentence Examples

  • Here we have to deal with a transformation with which we can grapple, and which can be controlled for our purposes.

  • Origen thus solved, after his own fashion, a problem which his predecessor Clement had not even ventured to grapple with.

  • With indefatigable energy he at once attempted to grapple with the difficulties of the situation, waging an almost desperate struggle with sloth, corruption and incompetence.

  • This shows that the principle of the dissipation of energy has control over the actions of those agents only whose faculties are too gross to enable them to grapple individually with the minute portions of matter which are the seat of energy.

  • This called forth a letter' from St Paul, who felt himself compelled to grapple at close quarters with teaching which he saw cut at the very root of his own.

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Words near grapple in the Dictionary