Considerate but grasping (13)
I believe the answer is:
understanding
This clue might be a double definition.
'considerate' is the first definition.
'but grasping' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being present participle verbs.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for understanding that I've seen before include "Knowing" , "perception" , "Informal agreement" , "Gathering" , "Empathy" .)