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What's the semantic difference between "to grab" and "to grasp"?

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Aren't there differences in their dictionary definitions? – Kris Feb 18 '12 at 12:15
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As Kris points out, please tell us what you've got so far. If the dictionary definitions don't help you for some reason, include them in the question and tell us what exactly is causing confusion. Then the question can be reopened, and you'll get much better answers, too. Thanks. – RegDwighт Feb 18 '12 at 12:19
From Oxford Dictionary of English: grasp: seize and hold firmly. grab: grasp or seize suddenly and roughly. I suspect there are subtle differences but being a non-native speaker I cannot figure out. – Hemme Feb 18 '12 at 12:42
I bet that "RTFM" answers could be applied to a large part of the questions posted on this site. Nonetheless, there are kind people who answer anyway :-P – Hemme Feb 18 '12 at 12:48

closed as not a real question by Kris, RegDwighт Feb 18 '12 at 12:19

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote accepted

You grab a loaf of bread with stuffing and eat it. You grab a stone and throw it at the glass.

You grasp the ideas of a poem. You grasp the techniques of solving a system of linear equations.

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You can also grasp a loaf of bread or a stone. – Kris Feb 18 '12 at 12:24
but, we dont grab a theorem, I suppose. :) – karthik Feb 18 '12 at 12:28
Gotta check that one. – Kris Feb 18 '12 at 12:32

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