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# clasp

«clasp» in Mova's school dictionary: **To hold something tightly in your hand or arms: «She…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#m1)

2) (verb) To put your hands together with the fingers locked: «clasp your hands». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#m2)

3) (noun) A small metal fastener that holds two parts together, for example on a necklace, bag or belt. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#m3)

4) (noun) A tight hold or grip: «a firm clasp». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#m4)

### sense in the 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

- She clasped her little brother's hand as they crossed the road. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x1)
- He sat with his hands clasped in his lap. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x2)
- Grandma could not open the tiny clasp on her necklace. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x3)
- The old diary had a brass clasp and a lock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x4)
- The winner clasped the trophy to her chest. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x5)
- My bag's clasp snapped open and my pencils fell out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x6)
- They clasped each other in a big hug at the airport. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x7)
- Clasp your hands behind your head and lie back. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x8)
- And the Queen undid the clasps. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/#x9)

### 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.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.1095/)
- [And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.1100/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «clasp» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clasp/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.