different between tweak vs clasp

English

Etymology

From Middle English twikken, from Old English twiccian (“to pluck”), from Proto-West Germanic *twekk?n (“to fasten; clamp; pinch”). Related to twitch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /twi?k/
• Rhymes: -i?k

Verb

tweak (third-person singular simple present tweaks, present participle tweaking, simple past and past participle tweaked)

1. (transitive) To pinch and pull with a sudden jerk and twist; to twitch.

2. (transitive, informal) To adjust slightly; to fine-tune.
3. (transitive) To twit or tease.
4. (intransitive, US, slang) To abuse methamphetamines, especially crystal meth.
5. (intransitive, US, slang) To exhibit symptoms of methamphetamine abuse, such as extreme nervousness, compulsiveness, erratic motion, excitability; possibly a blend of twitch and freak.
6. (intransitive, US, slang) To exhibit extreme nervousness, evasiveness when confronted by law enforcement or other authority (e.g., customs agents, border patrol, teacher, etc.), mimicking methamphetamine abuse symptoms.

Derived terms

• (drug abuser): tweaker, (US)
• (drug abuse): tweaking

Translations

Noun

tweak (plural tweaks)

1. A sharp pinch or jerk; a twist or twitch.

2. A slight adjustment or modification.

3. Trouble; distress; tweag.
4. (obsolete, slang) A prostitute.
5. (cryptography) An additional input to a block cipher, used in conjunction with the key to select the permutation computed by the cipher.

Translations

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

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