clasp

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clasp

(klăsp)

1. A fastening, such as a hook or buckle, used to hold two or more objects or parts together.

a. An embrace or hug.

b. A grip or grasp of the hand.

3. A small metal bar or other device attached to the ribbon of a military decoration to indicate the action or service for which it was awarded or an additional award of the same medal.

tr.v. clasped, clasp·ing, clasps

1. To fasten with or as if with a clasp.

2. To hold in a tight embrace.

3. To grip firmly in or with the hand; grasp.

[Middle English claspe, probably ultimately from Old English clyppan, to grasp, hold.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

clasp

(klɑːsp)

1. a fastening, such as a catch or hook, used for holding things together

2. a firm grasp, hold, or embrace

3. (Military) military a bar or insignia on a medal ribbon, to indicate either a second award or the battle, campaign, or reason for its award

vb (tr)

4. to hold in a firm grasp

5. to grasp firmly with the hand

6. to fasten together with or as if with a clasp

[C14: of uncertain origin; compare Old English clyppan to embrace]

ˈclasper n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

clasp

(klæsp, klɑsp)

n.

1. a device, usu. of metal, for fastening together two or more things or parts of the same thing.

2. a firm grasp or grip.

3. a tight embrace.

4. a small bar, star, etc., affixed to a military decoration to indicate that it has been awarded an additional time.

v.t.

5. to fasten with or as if with a clasp.

6. to furnish with a clasp.

7. to grasp or grip with the hand.

8. to hold in a tight embrace; hug: He clasped the child to him.

[1275–1325; Middle English, perhaps b. clippen to clip² and haspe hasp]

clasp

Past participle: clasped
Gerund: clasping

Imperative
clasp
clasp

Present
I clasp
you clasp
he/she/it clasps
we clasp
you clasp
they clasp

Preterite
I clasped
you clasped
he/she/it clasped
we clasped
you clasped
they clasped

Present Continuous
I am clasping
you are clasping
he/she/it is clasping
we are clasping
you are clasping
they are clasping

Present Perfect
I have clasped
you have clasped
he/she/it has clasped
we have clasped
you have clasped
they have clasped

Past Continuous
I was clasping
you were clasping
he/she/it was clasping
we were clasping
you were clasping
they were clasping

Past Perfect
I had clasped
you had clasped
he/she/it had clasped
we had clasped
you had clasped
they had clasped

Future
I will clasp
you will clasp
he/she/it will clasp
we will clasp
you will clasp
they will clasp

Future Perfect
I will have clasped
you will have clasped
he/she/it will have clasped
we will have clasped
you will have clasped
they will have clasped

Future Continuous
I will be clasping
you will be clasping
he/she/it will be clasping
we will be clasping
you will be clasping
they will be clasping

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been clasping
you have been clasping
he/she/it has been clasping
we have been clasping
you have been clasping
they have been clasping

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been clasping
you will have been clasping
he/she/it will have been clasping
we will have been clasping
you will have been clasping
they will have been clasping

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been clasping
you had been clasping
he/she/it had been clasping
we had been clasping
you had been clasping
they had been clasping

Conditional
I would clasp
you would clasp
he/she/it would clasp
we would clasp
you would clasp
they would clasp

Past Conditional
I would have clasped
you would have clasped
he/she/it would have clasped
we would have clasped
you would have clasped
they would have clasped

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	clasp - a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things together handbag, purse, bag, pocketbook - a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women); "she reached into her bag and found a comb" bangle, bracelet - jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration fastening, holdfast, fastener, fixing - restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
	2.	clasp - the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing" clutch, clutches, grip, hold, clench, grasp choke hold, chokehold - a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind; "he grabbed the woman in a chokehold, demanded her cash and jewelry, and then fled" embrace, embracement, embracing - the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection) prehension, taking hold, grasping, seizing - the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles) wrestling hold - a hold used in the sport of wrestling
Verb	1.	clasp - hold firmly and tightly grasp, hold on - hold firmly hug, bosom, embrace, squeeze - squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her close to him" unclasp - release from a clasp; "She clasped and unclasped her hands"
	2.	clasp - fasten with or as if with a brooch brooch fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man"
	3.	clasp - fasten with a buckle or buckles buckle fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man"
	4.	clasp - grasp firmly; "The child clasped my hands" clutch, prehend, seize - take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" unclasp - release from a clasp; "She clasped and unclasped her hands"

clasp

verb

1. grasp, hold, press, grip, seize, squeeze, embrace, clutch, hug, enfold Mary clasped the children to her desperately.

noun

1. grasp, hold, grip, embrace, hug He gripped my hand in a strong clasp.

2. fastening, catch, grip, hook, snap, pin, clip, buckle, brooch, fastener, hasp, press stud She undid the clasp of the hooded cloak she was wearing.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

clasp

noun

1. A device for fastening or for checking motion:

catch, fastener, hook.

2. The act of embracing:

embrace, hug, squeeze.

Slang: clinch.

3. An act or means of holding something:

clench, clutch, grasp, grip, hold.

Sports: grapple.

verb

1. To put one's arms around affectionately:

embrace, enfold, hold, hug, press, squeeze.

Slang: clinch.

Archaic: bosom, clip, embosom.

2. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on:

clench, clutch, grab, grapple, grasp, grip, seize.

Translations

إِبْزيـممَشْبَكيَشُدُّ على، يَتَمَسَّك بِقُوَّه

sponasvíratzapínánísevřít

hægtehåndtrykholde fastlåsspænde

Haken Klammer umfangen umfassen umklammern

πόρπη

cierre seguro agarrar

solki

fermoir serrer agrafer

kopča

erõsen tart

spenna, hespataka fast um

fermaglio fibbia stretta di mano stringere borchia

留め金

걸쇠

gniaužtisąsagasugniaužti

sakamptsatvertsprādze

gesp

gripe med et fast grep hekte

klamra

agarrar fivela

apuca

застежка

stisnitizaponka

spänne

ตะขอ

toka tutmak kanca kavramak kopça

móc

扣子紧握钩

clasp

[klɑːsp]

A. N

1. [of brooch, necklace] → cierre m; [of belt etc] → broche m; [of book] → broche m, manecilla f

2. with a clasp of the hand → con un apretón de manos

B. VT

1. (= fasten) → abrochar

2. (= take hold of) → agarrar; (= hold hands) → apretar
to clasp one's hands (together) → juntar las manos
to clasp sb's hands → apretar las manos a algn, estrechar las manos de algn

3. (= embrace) → abrazar
to clasp sb to one's bosom → estrechar a algn contra el pecho

C. CPD clasp knife N → navaja f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

clasp

[ˈklɑːsp]

(= fastener) [purse, bag] → fermoir m

vt [+ person] → serrer, étreindre
to clasp sb's arm → saisir qn par le bras

clasp

(on brooch etc) → (Schnapp)verschluss m

(with one’s arms) → Umklammerung f; (with hand) → Griff m

(Mil, of medals) → Ansteckabzeichen nt, → Metallspange f → auf dem Ordensband

(= hold) → (er)greifen; to clasp somebody’s hand → jds Hand ergreifen; to clasp one’s hands (together) → die Hände falten; with his hands clasped in prayer → mit zum Gebet gefalteten Händen; with his hands clasped behind his back → mit auf dem Rücken verschränkten Händen; to clasp somebody in one’s arms → jdn in die Arme nehmen or schließen; they lay clasped in each other’s arms → sie lagen sich in den Armen; to clasp somebody to one’s chest → jdn ans Herz drücken

(= fasten with a clasp) → befestigen, zuschnappen lassen; she clasped the bracelet round her wrist → sie legte ihr Armband an

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

clasp

[klɑːsp]

1. n → fibbia, fermaglio

2. vt → afferrare
to clasp one's hands (together) → stringere le mani
to clasp sb in one's arms → stringere qn tra le braccia

clasp

(klaːsp) noun

a fastening made of two parts which link together (eg on a necklace).

verb

to grasp, hold tightly. She clasped the money in her hand.

clasp

→ إِبْزيـم spona håndtryk Klammer πόρπη cierre solki fermoir kopča fibbia 留め金 걸쇠 gesp hekte klamra fivela застежка spänne ตะขอ toka móc 扣子

clasp

n. gancho.

References in classic literature ?

By that Heaven that bends above us -- by that God we both adore -- Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

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By that Heaven that bends above us--by that God we both adore-- Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

View in context

"When I had somewhat recovered from the dazing effect of the transition from uproar to silence, my first impulse was to reopen the door which I had closed, and from the knob of which I was not conscious of having removed my hand; I felt it distinctly, still in the clasp of my fingers.

View in context

For occasion (as it is in the common verse) turneth a bald noddle, after she hath presented her locks in front, and no hold taken; or at least turneth the handle of the bottle, first to be received, and after the belly, which is hard to clasp. There is surely no greater wisdom, than well to time the beginnings, and onsets, of things.

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And amid a general laugh the two men clasped hands, and in that clasp the strong friendship of a lifetime was begun.

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Her narrow and supple waist, which a hand may clasp around, sets forth the outline of her rounded figure and the beauty of her bosom, where youth in its flower displays the wealth of its treasures; and beneath the silken folds of her tunic she seems to have been modelled in pure silver by the godlike hand of Vicvarcarma, the immortal sculptor."

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She turned round on her chair, flushed crimson, and rapidly moving her fingers, pinched the clasp of her belt first with one hand and then with the other.

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Now I said nothing in answer, for this reason only: that when I heard Nada call me father, not knowing me, and saw her clasp my knees and pray to me in my daughter's name, I, who was childless save for her, went nigh to weeping.

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When he leaned forward and kissed her, she clasped his head, holding his lips to hers.

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Felton, in his turn a suppliant, clasped his hands.

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The two men faced each other, the elbows of their right arms on the counter, the hands clasped. Slosson's hand quickly forced backward and down.

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She stood with her hands clasped, trembling and looking at him.

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