GRIP

(HOLD) [verb] -pp- - to hold very tightlyThe baby gripped my finger with her tiny hand. [T]Worn tyres don't grip (= stay on the surface of the road) in the rain very well. [I]If an emotion or activity grips you, you feel it strongly or are very interested by it.As the bull ran towards him Jeff was gripped by fear.I was gripped by the film from the moment it started.