Library / English Dictionary

TWEAK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A squeeze with the fingers

Synonyms:

pinch; tweak

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("tweak" is a kind of...):

squeeze; squeezing (the act of gripping and pressing firmly)

Derivation:

tweak (pull or pull out sharply)

tweak (pinch or squeeze sharply)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Adjust finely

Example:

fine-tune the engine

Synonyms:

fine-tune; tweak

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "tweak" is one way to...):

tune; tune up (adjust for (better) functioning)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pull or pull out sharply

Example:

pluck the flowers off the bush

Synonyms:

pick off; pluck; pull off; tweak

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "tweak" is one way to...):

draw; pull (cause to move by pulling)

Verb group:

draw away; draw off; pull off (remove by drawing or pulling)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tweak"):

tweeze (pluck with tweezers)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

tweak (a squeeze with the fingers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Pinch or squeeze sharply

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "tweak" is one way to...):

nip; pinch; squeeze; tweet; twinge; twitch (squeeze tightly between the fingers)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tweak (a squeeze with the fingers)

Credits

 Context examples: 

"Ah, that depends on who wears the apron!" and Laurie gave an audacious tweak at the tassel.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

This suggests you will need to make tweaks and go over some points again to check for accuracy or to communicate more effectively.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Laurie enjoyed that immensely, and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Meet with your financial adviser, go over your earnings, and see if any tweaks to your portfolio are necessary.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)