a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes
"he carried his small bag onto the plane with him"
the friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road)
"The driver slammed on the brakes to test whether the icy road still had enough grip to stop the car safely."
worker who moves the camera around while a film or television show is being made
"The grip adjusted the lighting rig to ensure the actor was properly illuminated during the scene."
A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand.
"The ancient legend describes a fierce griffin guarding its golden hoard on a distant mountain peak."
A small ditch or trench; a channel to carry off water or other liquid; a drain.
The griffin.
In plain English: A grip is your ability to hold onto something tightly with your hands.
"The strong grip on my shoulder made me feel safe during the scary movie scene."
Usage: As a noun, grip refers primarily to how firmly something is held in your hands rather than its meaning as a ditch or channel for water. Use this word when describing physical strength or control over an object, such as having a strong grip on a steering wheel.
To take hold of, particularly with the hand.
"The athlete tightened his grip on the bar before attempting the lift."
In plain English: To grip something means to hold it tightly with your hand so you don't drop it.
"She tightened her grip on the steering wheel to avoid skidding."
The verb "grip" comes from the Middle English word grippen, which traces back to an ancient Proto-Germanic root meaning to grasp or hold. The noun form arrived later as a blend of two Old English words for holding things and handfuls, eventually settling into its current spelling in Modern English.