clasp
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++clasp1 ●○○ verb [transitive] written 1 HOLDto hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them 握紧；抱紧；抓住 SYN grip A baby monkey clasps its mother’s fur tightly. 小猴子紧紧地抓住母猴的毛。clasp your hands/arms around/behind something Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. 费内拉身体前倾，双手紧紧抱着膝盖。 She stood with her hands clasped tightly together. 她站着，双手紧紧地握在一起。clasp somebody/something in your hands/arms She clasped the photograph in her hands. 她将照片紧紧抓在手里。clasp somebody to your chest/bosom (=hold someone tightly with your arms) 抱紧某人，搂紧某人► see thesaurus at hold2. FASTEN/DO UPto fasten something with a clasp 〔用扣环〕扣住，钩住→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
clasp• Lie down with your hands clasped behind your head.• Magrat clasped her hands together and looked down, biting her knuckles.• To Heather, she seemed delicate looking, poised with her hands loosely clasped in front.• The three sit silent for a moment, hands clasped in identical attitudes, staring at the table.• The baby monkey clasped its mother's fur tightly.• He clasped the royal hand and plastered it with three lingering kisses.• I see nothing wrong with clasping them above the waist.• Kneel, feet and legs together, arms stretched above your head, hands clasped together.clasp your hands/arms around/behind something• They made us all kneel, made us put our heads between our legs and clasp our hands behind.• Malik clasped his hands behind his back.• He switched channels with the remote, clasped his hands behind his head.• I clasped my hands behind my neck, and considered.• Lightly clasp your hands behind your head, elbows out to the sides.• Still with your legs crossed in the air, lightly clasp your hands behind your head.clasp2 /klɑːsp $ klæsp/ noun 1. [countable]DC a small metal object for fastening a bag, belt, piece of jewellery etc 扣子；扣环2 [singular]HOLD a tight hold 紧握；紧抱 SYN grip the firm clasp of her hand 她有力的握手Examples from the Corpus
clasp• It was about fifteen inches wide, of polished wood, and bound with brass clasps.• He hands them over wordlessly, his other arm circling a briefcase with a broken clasp.• The gilding was flaking off a clumsy clasp and some stitches had broken on the handle, leaving it frayed and shabby.• Most exciting of all, the book had a small gilt clasp with a lock and key.• The third time the clasp jammed.clasp1 verbclasp2 nounChinese
your to someone something or tightly, Corpus closing hold
clasp
clasp1 /klɑːsp $ klæsp/ 
noun
1. [countable] a small metal object for fastening a bag, belt, piece of jewellery etc
2. [singular] a tight hold
SYN grip:
the firm clasp of her hand
clasp2 verb [transitive] written
1. to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them
SYN grip:
A baby monkey clasps its mother’s fur tightly.
clasp your hands/arms around/behind something
Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees.
She stood with her hands clasped tightly together.
clasp somebody/something in your hands/arms
She clasped the photograph in her hands.
clasp somebody to your chest/bosom (=hold someone tightly with your arms)
2. to fasten something with a clasp
▪ hold to have something in your hand, hands, or arms: Maria came in holding a letter. | Can I hold the baby?
▪grip to hold something very tightly and not let it go: He gripped her arm so she couldn’t walk away. | Jenny gripped the side of the boat to steady herself.
▪clutch to hold something tightly, especially because you do not want to drop or lose it: A businessman hurried past, clutching his briefcase. | The little girl clutched onto his hand.
▪clasp written to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them: She was clasping a bunch of small summer flowers. | He clasped her in his arms and kissed her.
▪get/take hold of something to take something in your hand or hands and hold it: I took hold of the handle and pulled as hard as I could. | Quickly – try and get hold of that frog!
▪grasp written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way: She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
▪grab to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: He grabbed my bag and ran off with it. | The other man grabbed hold of (=suddenly took hold of ) my arms and threatened me with a knife.
▪seize /siːz/ written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
▪hang on (to something) to hold on to something or someone tightly to support yourself: He hung on to the rail at the back of the motorbike. | Hang on tight!
▪keep hold of something to continue to hold something: Greg was struggling to keep hold of the dog. | She tried to take her hand away but he kept hold of it.
| I |
noun1. [countable] a small metal object for fastening a bag, belt, piece of jewellery etc
2. [singular] a tight hold
SYN grip:
| II |
verb [transitive] written1. to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them
SYN grip:
clasp your hands/arms around/behind something
clasp somebody/something in your hands/arms
clasp somebody to your chest/bosom (=hold someone tightly with your arms)
2. to fasten something with a clasp
| THESAURUS |
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hold to have sb/sth in your hand or arms 指抓住、抱住、托住、夹住 ：◆ She was holding a large box. 她提着一只大箱子。 ◆ I held the baby gently in my arms. 我把婴儿轻轻地抱在怀里。 hold on (to sb/sth) to continue to hold sb/sth; to put your hand on sb/sth and not take your hand away 指抓紧、不放开 ：◆ Hold on and don't let go until I say so. 握紧，我让你松手时才松开。 cling to hold on to sb/sth tightly, especially with your whole body 尤指用身体紧抱、紧握、抓紧 ：◆ Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.生还者紧紧抱住漂浮在水面上的残骸。 clutch to hold sb/sth tightly, especially in your hand; to take hold of sth suddenly 尤指用手抓紧、紧握、抱紧、突然抓住 ：◆ She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. 她站在那里，手里仍然紧握着花束。 ◆ He felt himself slipping and clutched at a branch.他感到自己滑了一下，便一把抓住一根树枝。 grip to hold on to sth very tightly with your hand 指用手紧握、紧抓 ：◆ Grip the rope as tightly as you can. 尽可能紧紧抓住绳子。 grasp to take hold of sth firmly 指抓紧、抓牢 ：◆ He grasped my hand and shook it warmly. 他热情地抓着我的手握了起来。 NOTE The object of grasp is often sb'shand orwrist .* grasp 的宾语通常为 hand 或 wrist。 clasp ( to hold sb/sth tightly in your hand or in your arms指紧握、攥紧、抱紧 ：◆ They clasped hands (= .held each other's hands )他们相互紧握着对方的手。 ◆ She clasped the children in her arms. 她把孩子紧紧地搂在怀里。 NOTE The object of clasp is often yourhands , sb else'shand or another person.* clasp 的宾语通常为 hand 或另一个人。 hang on (to sth) to hold on to sth very tightly, especially in order to support yourself or stop yourself from falling 尤指为支撑自己或防止跌倒而紧紧抓住某物 ：◆ Hang on tight. We're off! 抓紧，我们出发了！
Patterns
to hold/clutch/grip/clasp sth in your hand/hands to hold/clutch/clasp sb/sth in your arms to hold/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to sthto hold/cling/hang on to hold/clutch/clasp sb/sth to youto hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp/hang on to sb/sth tightly to hold/hold on to/cling to/clutch/grip/grasp/clasp sb/sth firmly to hold/hold on to/clutch/grip/clasp/hang on to sb/sth tight
