(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If you ~ something, you take it in your hand and hold it very firmly.
He ~ed both my hands...
She was trying to ~ at something.
VERB: V n, V at n
see also ~ing
2.
A ~ is a very firm hold or grip.
His hand was taken in a warm, firm ~.
N-SING: with supp
3.
If you say that something is in someone’s ~, you disapprove of the fact that they possess or control it. If something slips from your ~, you lose it or lose control of it.
The people in your ~ are not guests, they are hostages...
She allowed victory to slip from her ~.
...the task of liberating a number of states from the ~ of tyrants.
N-SING: with poss, oft in/from N
4.
If you ~ something that is complicated or difficult to understand, you understand it.
The Government has not yet ~ed the seriousness of the crisis...
He instantly ~ed that Stephen was talking about his wife.
VERB: V n, V that
5.
A ~ of something is an understanding of it.
They have a good ~ of foreign languages.
N-SING: with supp, usu N of N
6.
If you say that something is within someone’s ~, you mean that it is very likely that they will achieve it.
Peace is now within our ~.
PHRASE: v-link PHR