different between clasp vs coupler

English

Etymology

Noun dated in the 13th century AD and verb dated in the late 14th century AD; from claspe, possible modification of clapse, which is from Old English clyppan (“to grasp”). Related to English enclasp (“embrace, hold tightly in one's arms”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /klæsp/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kl??sp/
• Rhymes: -æsp, -??sp

Noun

clasp (plural clasps)

1. A fastener or holder, particularly one that clasps.

   I always have a hard time working the clasp on this necklace!

2. (in the singular) An embrace, a grasp, or handshake.

   He took her hand in a firm clasp.

Translations

Verb

clasp (third-person singular simple present clasps, present participle clasping, simple past and past participle clasped)

1. (transitive) To take hold of; to grasp; to grab tightly.

   They clasped hands and parted as friends.

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula Chapter 21:

     The poor dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and lower still on his breast.

2. To shut or fasten together with, or as if with, a clasp.

Synonyms

• beclasp (dated)
• (grasp tightly): begrip, grasp, grip; See also Thesaurus:grasp
• (shut with a clasp):
• (shut as if with a clasp): attach, join, put together; see also Thesaurus:join

Related terms

• enclasp

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “clasp”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• calps, claps, scalp

English

Etymology

From couple +? -er.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?pl?/

Noun

coupler (plural couplers)

1. (now rare) Someone who couples things together, especially someone whose job it is to couple railway carriages.
2. Anything that serves to couple things together; but especially a device that couples railway carriages.
3. (music) A device that connects two keyboards of an organ together so that they play together.
4. A device used to convert electronic information into audible sound signals for transmission over telephone lines.
5. An electrical device used to transfer energy from one electric device to another, especially without a physical connection.

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin c?pul?re, present active infinitive of c?pul?. Doublet of the borrowed copuler.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku.ple/

Verb

coupler

1. to couple

Conjugation

Derived terms

• accoupler
• découpler

Further reading

• “coupler” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).