Hypertext Webster Gateway: "clasp"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Clasp \Clasp\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clasped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Clasping}] [OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.]
1. To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to
shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a
clasp).
2. To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to
grasp; to embrace.
3. To surround and cling to; to entwine about. ``Clasping
ivy.'' --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Clasp \Clasp\, n.
1. 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.
2. A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a
grasping, as with the hand.
{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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
clasp
n 1: a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two
things together
2: 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" [syn: {clench}, {clutch}, {clutches}, {grasp},
{grip}, {hold}]
v 1: hold firmly and tightly [ant: {unclasp}]
2: fasten with or as if with a brooch [syn: {brooch}]
3: fasten with a buckle or buckles [syn: {buckle}] [ant: {unbuckle}]
4: grasp firmly; "The child clasped my hands" [ant: {unclasp}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.