taking hold vs clasp

taking hold and clasp both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
taking hold	Yes	No	No	No
clasp	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, clasp is a hyponym of taking hold; that is, clasp is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than taking hold:

taking hold: the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)
clasp: the act of grasping

Other hyponyms of taking hold include clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold.

taking hold (noun)	clasp (noun)
the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)	the act of grasping
	a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things together

taking hold (verb)	clasp (verb)
	hold firmly and tightly
	grasp firmly
	fasten with a buckle or buckles
	fasten with or as if with a brooch