clasp1 verbclasp2 noun
claspclasp1 ●○○ verb [transitive] written 
VERB TABLE
clasp
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | clasp |
| he, she, it | clasps | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | clasped |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have clasped |
| he, she, it | has clasped | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had clasped |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will clasp |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have clasped |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am clasping |
| he, she, it | is clasping | |
| you, we, they | are clasping | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was clasping |
| you, we, they | were clasping | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been clasping |
| he, she, it | has been clasping | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been clasping |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be clasping |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been clasping |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Lie down with your hands clasped behind your head.
- 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.
- Magrat clasped her hands together and looked down, biting her knuckles.
- The three sit silent for a moment, hands clasped in identical attitudes, staring at the table.
- To Heather, she seemed delicate looking, poised with her hands loosely clasped in front.
THESAURUS
to have something in your hand, hands, or arms: · Maria came in holding a letter.· Can I hold the baby?
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.
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.
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.
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!
written to take hold of something firmly, especially in a determined way: · She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself up into the tree.
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.
written to take hold of something suddenly and often violently: · A police officer ran after him and seized the gun.
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!
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.
Longman Language Activatorto hold something tightly to put your hand around something and hold it tightly, in order to stop yourself from falling or from losing what you are holding: · We're coming up to a bumpy bit - you'd better hold on!· Just hang on as best you can and I'll try and get some help.hold/hang on to something: · Mother's not strong. She can't walk without holding on to someone's arm.· People stood hanging on to the overhead straps of the swaying subway car.hold on tight: · As the roller coaster turned upside down I shut my eyes and held on tight.· He inched across the roof, hanging on as best he could.
to hold something tightly, by pressing your fingers very hard against it: · David suddenly gripped my arm and pulled me away from the road.· His knuckles whitened as he gripped the microphone.· She found his hand and gripped it tightly.
to hold something tightly, closing your fingers around it: · "Ah!'' he cried, clutching his stomach.· A group of tourists stood clutching their phrase books.· A little girl stood clasping her mother's hand.· Sally ran out of the house, clasping her schoolbooks to her chest.
to hold on to someone or something very tightly for comfort or support: · The baby monkey clings to its mother's back until it can climb by itself.· Many children will cling to a soft blanket or toy as a substitute for their mother at night.· Rescue workers saved a 9-year-old boy who was clinging to rocks after he was swept into the ocean by the tide.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. She stood with her hands clasped tightly together. She clasped the photograph in her hands.
1to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them SYN grip: Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. She stood with her hands clasped tightly together. She clasped the photograph in her hands. (=hold someone tightly with your arms)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=hold them together tightly)· Emily clasped her hands together and stood there nervously.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· His hands clasped tightly in front of his chest.· Her sister, Rachel, sat on the couch, her hands clasped tightly together.· She instinctively shrunk back against the wall, her hands clasped tightly against her chest.· He stared straight ahead, hands clasped tightly in his lap, back straight, head up, shoulders squared.
· Kneel, feet and legs together, arms stretched above your head, hands clasped together.· And he was leaning forward on his chair, his hands clasped together.· His hands were clasped together as if to comfort one another.
NOUN· I found Sally clasped in the arms of some character with a loud taste in shoes.· Then they clasped hands and arms, began dancing.· He clasped Joanne in his arms, not for love or lust, just sheer joy at being alive.· He stood there like an idiot as she clasped him by the arms and kissed him on the cheek.· He clasped her arm and spun her about so she was facing the king.
· His hands clasped tightly in front of his chest.· She instinctively shrunk back against the wall, her hands clasped tightly against her chest.
· His own hands involuntarily rise to clasp at my fingers.· The child himself so thin you could have clasped your fingers around his waist.· He clasped her fingers and brought them to his lips.
· Leonora had small, well-shaped hands and clasped his warmly.· Only her hands, clasping the edge of the table, betrayed her rage.· His hands clasped tightly in front of his chest.· Lilly stood at the window in the front room with her hands clasped behind her back, looking down into the woods.· Kneel, feet and legs together, arms stretched above your head, hands clasped together.· To Heather, she seemed delicate looking, poised with her hands loosely clasped in front.· She picked him up with her left hand and held him clasped in her palm.
· He had his hands clasped behind his head and was leaning against the head-rest behind him so that his tanned throat was exposed.· Patrick pulled his hands out from beneath the covers and clasped them behind his head, his eyes on the ceiling.
· Kate's arms were clasped around her knees in an attitude she often took up.· She stretched out across the floor and thrust her clasped hands between her knees.
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)► see thesaurus at hold2to fasten something with a claspclasp1 verbclasp2 noun
claspclasp2 /klɑːsp $ klæsp/ noun 1[countable] a small metal object for fastening a bag, belt, piece of jewellery etc2[singular] a tight hold SYN grip: the firm clasp of her hand