clasp
part of speech
verb (clasp, clasps, clasped, clasping); noun (a clasp, clasps)
meaning for a pupil
1) (verb) To hold something tightly in your hand or arms: «She clasped her teddy». tree →
2) (verb) To put your hands together with the fingers locked: «clasp your hands». tree →
3) (noun) A small metal fastener that holds two parts together, for example on a necklace, bag or belt. tree →
4) (noun) A tight hold or grip: «a firm clasp». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it is a fastener of gold or brass that joins the curtains of the Tabernacle. Interpretation: The clasps joined the curtains so that "the tabernacle was one." Tradition reads this as showing that many parts make one holy dwelling. In the primary lessons: In stories «clasped» shows strong feeling: a frightened child clasps a parent's hand, a happy friend clasps someone in a hug, someone prays with clasped hands. In everyday life clasps fasten jewellery, purses and old books. In PE or drama teachers might say «clasp your hands behind your back». Phrases: «clasp hands», «hands clasped», «clasp to your chest», «necklace clasp».
examples
- And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. (Torah EXO.36.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; (Torah EXO.35.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps; so the tabernacle was one. (Torah EXO.36.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- She clasped her little brother's hand as they crossed the road. tree →
- He sat with his hands clasped in his lap. tree →
- Grandma could not open the tiny clasp on her necklace. tree →
- The old diary had a brass clasp and a lock. tree →
- The winner clasped the trophy to her chest. tree →
- My bag's clasp snapped open and my pencils fell out. tree →
- They clasped each other in a big hug at the airport. tree →
- Clasp your hands behind your head and lie back. tree →
- And the Queen undid the clasps. tree →
note
Past form: clasped (one syllable, said «claspt»). «Clasp» is stronger and more careful than «hold» and often shows emotion. A «grasp» is a firm hold, often to take something; a «clasp» is holding close or fastening. «Clasp» as a fastener is countable: a clasp, two clasps.
In the corpora
- And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps; so the tabernacle was one.
- And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «clasp» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.