tweak
/twiːk
/verb
1 [with object] Twist or pull (something) sharply: he tweaked the boy’s ear...
- When another had objected he had tweaked the boy's nose.
- He's had the flu, he tweaked a groin and he pulled a hamstring 10 days ago.
- Downes was due to be included in the senior squad to face Boston United at Bootham Crescent today but tweaked his medial knee ligaments in training yesterday.
Synonyms
pull sharply, twist, tug, pinch, nip, twitch, squeeze, jerk
2 [with object] informal Improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it: engineers tweak the car’s operating systems during the race...
- He should push harder on some innovative ways to tweak the welfare system.
- Before next season, the league needs to tweak the playoff system and introduce a refined seeding approach.
- After several weeks of tuning and tweaking the system, he achieved the results he wanted.
Synonyms
adjust, make adjustments to, modify, alter, make alterations to, change, adapt;
refine, improve, make improvements to
3US informal Become or cause to become agitated or excited, typically from taking amphetamines or another stimulant: [no object]: I just about went crazy yesterday—I was totally tweaking out [with object]: caffeine is a natural mood elevator but if you’re stressed to begin with it can kind of tweak you out...
- Well, even if the idea of tweaking out on malt liquor doesn't appeal to you, there should be lots of local goings-on that should.
- I am very un-nerved by this and being alone in the apartment with a kitten who is tweaking out because of it.
- We were tweaking out - you know like, when you're either on a drug, or on some level of complexity where you take one degree of a 360 degree spectrum, but then analyse it from a whole other dimension.
noun
1A sharp twist or pull: an affectionate tweak...
- Once there he would preen himself and settle down quite quietly, giving my hair an affectionate tweak from time to time.
- Lynn, aged 45, of Blackstone Edge, is chief physiotherapist for the UK team and will have overall responsibility for looking after the tweaks and twinges of hundreds of competitors.
- I gave Michael's ear an affectionate last tweak before releasing it.
Synonyms
sharp pull, twist, tug, pinch, nip, twitch, squeeze, jerk
2 informal A fine adjustment to a mechanism or system: no tweaks were required...
- Here there is little or no help, but a small tweak to the taxation system could make an enormous difference to stay-at-home mothers.
- But along the way, those of you familiar with the series will notice a few subtle, incredibly effective tweaks and adjustments that will alter the whole way you think about real time strategy gaming.
- The concept of comparing two players in a variety of categories will remain the same, but I'm unveiling a few tweaks to the scoring system.
Synonyms
adjustment, modification, alteration, change, adaptation;
refinement, improvement
Derivatives
tweaker
- Well, follow the link to find out what the tweakers thought.
- This should be more than enough voltage adjustment for your avid tweaker.
- Given the band's highly minimalist style, the tweakers are forced to use the subtlety and restraint usually missing from remixes, tastefully embellishing the songs without being overly distracting.
Origin
Early 17th century: probably an alteration of dialect twick 'pull sharply'; related to twitch.
Rhymes
- plung
- plunge
- plunge basin
- plunge bath
- plunge bed
- plunge churn
- plunge cut
- plunge cutting
- plunge grinding
- plunge-line
- plunge neck
- plunge-necked
- plunge neckline
- plunge net
- plungeon
- plunge pool
- plunger
- plunger brake
- plunger-muted
- plunge router
- plunger piston
- plunger pole
- plunger pump
- plunger valve
- plunge saw