clasp

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

clasp, v. t. [OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.].

•  To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).  [1913 Webster]
•  To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace.  [1913 Webster]
•  To surround and cling to; to entwine about.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

clasp, n. 

•  An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers of a book, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand.  [1913 Webster]

Clasp knife, a large knife, the blade of which folds or shuts into the handle. -- Clasp lock, a lock which closes or secures itself by means of a spring.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

clasp, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a device with interlocking parts for fastening. b a buckle or brooch. c a metal fastening on a book-cover.
2 a an embrace; a person's reach. b a grasp or handshake.
3 a bar of silver on a medal-ribbon with the name of the battle etc. at which the wearer was present.
--v.
1 tr. fasten with or as with a clasp.
2 tr. a grasp, hold closely. b embrace, encircle.
3 intr. fasten a clasp.

Idiom

clasp hands shake hands with fervour or affection. clasp one's hands interlace one's fingers. clasp-knife a folding knife, usu. with a catch holding the blade when open.

Derivative

clasper n.

Etymology

ME: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

clasp

abduct, adhere, adhere to, agglomerate, around, articulate, batten, batten down, bear hug, bite, bolt, bosom, brooch, buckle, bunch, butt, button, carry off, catch, clamp, cleat, cleave, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, cling to, clinging, clip, close, clot, cluster, clutch, coagulate, cohere, congeal, conglomerate, death grip, dovetail, embosom, embrace, enclose, enfold, enfoldment, envelop, fasten, fastener, fastening, firm hold, fold, follow close upon, foothold, footing, freeze to, go with, grab, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, grow together, hang about, hang on, hang on to, hang together, hasp, hinge, hitch, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hold together, hook, hover over, huddle, hug, hug the shore, iron grip, jam, joint, keep close to, keep hold of, kidnap, latch, lie by, lock, march with, mass, miter, mortise, nail, never let go, nip, peg, persist, pin, press, purchase, rabbet, rivet, scarf, screw, seizure, set, sew, shanghai, skewer, snap, solidify, squeeze, stand by, staple, stay, stay inshore, stay near, stay put, stick, stick to, stick together, stitch, tack, tailgate, take hold of, tenure, throttle, tight grip, toehold, toggle, wedge, zipper

ROGET THESAURUS

clasp

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Coherence

VB cohere, adhere, stick, cling, cleave, hold, take hold of, hold fast, close with, clasp, hug, grow together, hang together, twine round, stick like a leech, stick like wax, stick close, cling like ivy, cling like a bur, adhere like a remora, adhere like Dejanira's shirt, glue, agglutinate, conglutinate, cement, lute, paste, gum, solder, weld, cake, consolidate, agglomerate.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.

Nearness

VB be near, adjoin, hang about, trench on, border upon, verge upon, stand by, approximate, tread on the heels of, cling to, clasp, hug, huddle, hang upon the skirts of, hover over, burn, touch, bring near, draw near, converge, crowd, place side by side.

Outline

N outline, circumference, perimeter, periphery, ambit, circuit, lines tournure, contour, profile, silhouette, bounds, coast line, zone, belt, girth, band, baldric, zodiac, girdle, tyre, cingle, clasp, girt, cordon, circlet.

Endearment

VB caress, fondle, pet, dandle, pat, pat on the head, pat on the cheek, chuck under the chin, smile upon, coax, wheedle, cosset, coddle, cocker, cockle, make of, make much of, cherish, foster, kill with kindness, clasp, hug, cuddle, fold in one's arms, strain in one's arms, nestle, nuzzle, embrace, kiss, buss, smack, blow a kiss, salute, fold to the heart, press to the bosom, bill and coo, spoon, toy, dally, flirt, coquet, gallivant, galavant, philander, make love, pay one's court to, pay one's addresses to, pay one's attentions to, serenade, court, woo, set one's cap at, be sweet upon, look sweet upon, ogle, cast sheep's eyes upon, faire les yeux doux, fall in love with, win the affections, die for, propose, make an offer, have an offer, pop the question, plight one's troth, plight one's faith.