tweak
[tweek]
- to pinch and pull with a jerk and twist: to tweak someone's ear; to tweak someone's nose.
- to pull or pinch the nose of, especially gently: He tweaked the baby on greeting.
- to make a minor adjustment to: to tweak a computer program.
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- an act or instance of tweaking; a sharp, twisting pull or jerk.
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Origin of tweak
First recorded in 1595–1605; akin to twitch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tweaking
Contemporary Examples
Some states are now tweaking the standards and dumping the “Common Core” label.
Tweaking the Clintons may help win over Republicans for a presidential bid.
What were some big Cameron suggestions that led to you tweaking your films?
Guillermo Del Toro on ‘Cabinet of Curiosities,’ Collaborating with Kanye West, and MoreMarlow Stern
November 8, 2013
For them, tweaking the game, making play as exciting as possible, is a quest in itself.
Studios are also tweaking their films to make them more Chinese-friendly.
Historical Examples
"Tweaking his nose," said Captain Giles in a scandalized tone.
The Shadow-LineJoseph Conrad
Boyd would have enjoyed this game of tweaking a wildcat's tail.
Ride Proud, Rebel!Andre Alice Norton
For Samuel had hold of his ear, and was tweaking it sharply.
The Stokesley SecretCharlotte M. Yonge
He was a very unsatisfactory steward and a miserable wretch besides, but I would just as soon think of tweaking his nose.
The Shadow-LineJoseph Conrad
"It's just a progressive Christmas pah'ty, grandfathah," she explained, tweaking his ear as she talked.
The Little Colonel's Christmas VacationAnnie Fellows Johnston
tweak
- to twist, jerk, or pinch with a sharp or sudden movementto tweak someone's nose
- motor racing slang to tune (a car or engine) for peak performance
- informal to make a minor alteration
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- an instance of tweaking
- informal a minor alteration
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Word Origin
Old English twiccian; related to Old High German zwecchōn; see twitch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tweaking
tweak
v.
"pinch, pluck, twist," usually to the nose, probably from Old English twiccian "to pluck," of obscure origin; perhaps related to twitch. Meaning "to make fine adjustments" is attested from 1966. Related: Tweaked; tweaking. The noun in this sense is recorded by 1989.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper