grapple

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grap·ple / ˈgrapəl/ • v. 1. [intr.] engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle: passersbygrappled with the man after the knife attack. ∎  [tr.] seize hold of (someone). ∎  (grapple with) struggle with or work hard to deal with or overcome (a difficulty or challenge): other towns are still grappling with the problem. 2. [tr.] archaic seize or hold with a grapnel. • n. an act of grappling. ∎  inf. a wrestling match. ∎  an instrument for catching hold of or seizing something; a grappling hook. DERIVATIVES: grap·pler / ˈgraplər/ n.

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