latch on

(verb) take hold of or attach to. Synonyms: latch on. Example: "The biochip latches onto the genes."

(verb) adopt. Synonyms: take up, latch on, fasten on, hook on, seize on. Example: "Take up new ideas."

(verb) understand, usually after some initial difficulty. Synonyms: catch on, get wise, get onto, tumble, latch on, cotton on, twig, get it. Example: "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on."