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clasp

noun
/klæsp/US/klɑːsp/UK/klasp/

Etymology

Noun dated ca. 1300 and verb dated ca. 1400; from Middle English claspe (“metal catch or hook used to hold things together”), possible metathesis of clapse, which comes from or related to Old English clyppan (“clasp”) (also see clip (verb)). Related to English enclasp (“embrace, hold tightly in one's arms”). Compare hasp, of very similar meaning but older known provenance.

  1. inherited from clyppan
  2. inherited from claspe

Definitions

  1. A device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together, such as a fastener…

    A device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together, such as a fastener or a holder.

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

  2. A bar or insignia on a medal ribbon, to either indicate an additional award of the medal,…

    A bar or insignia on a medal ribbon, to either indicate an additional award of the medal, or the action or service for which it was awarded.

  3. An embrace, a grasp, or handshake.

    • He took her hand in a firm clasp.
    • How few! yet how they creep / Through my fingers to the deep, / While I weep—while I weep! / O God! can I not grasp / Them with a tighter clasp?
  4. ›+ 3 more definitions

    1. To take hold of

      To take hold of; to grasp.

      • They clasped hands and parted as friends.
      • And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.
      • 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.

    3. To cling.

The neighborhood

Derived

clasp brake, claspin, clasp-knife, claspless, clasp lock, clasp locker, handclasp, tie clasp, clasper, reclasp, stem-clasping, unclasp

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at clasp. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01clasp02ribbon03narrow04sides05clipping06clip07embrace

A definitional loop anchored at clasp. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at clasp

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA