Grip means to hold something firmly and securely. When you grip a baseball bat, you squeeze it tightly so it won't slip when you swing. When you grip the handlebars of your bicycle, you maintain a strong hold to steer safely. A good grip gives you control.

The word also describes how well something holds on or stays in place. Tires with good grip stick to the road even when it's wet. Basketball shoes with grip help players stop and turn quickly without sliding. When ice covers the sidewalk, your boots might lose their grip and you could slip.

You can also grip something mentally or emotionally. A thrilling book might grip your attention so completely that you forget everything else. Fear can grip someone, meaning it takes hold of them so strongly they can't think clearly. When a teacher says “get a grip on this math concept,” she means understand it well enough to use it confidently.

A grip can also be the handle or part you hold: the grip on a tennis racket or the grip on a hockey stick. Athletes often wrap their grips with special tape to improve their hold.

When someone tells you to “get a grip,” they're suggesting you calm down and regain your composure.