tweak

tweak

verb \ˈtwēk\

Definition of TWEAK

transitive verb

1

: to pinch and pull with a sudden jerk and twist : twitch <tweaked a bud from the stem>

2

: to pinch (a person or a body part) lightly or playfully <tweaked the baby's ear affectionately>

3

: to make usually small adjustments in or to <tweak the controls>; especially : fine-tune

4

a : annoy, bother <tweaking the establishment>

b : to criticize especially in a sly or sharp manner

c : to poke fun at

5

: to injure slightly <tweak an ankle>

intransitive verb

1

: pull, pluck

2

: to make small adjustments

— tweak noun

Examples of TWEAK

1. We just wanted to tweak his original idea a bit.
2. He tweaked his ankle playing soccer.
3. My brother hates it when our grandmother tweaks his cheek.

Origin of TWEAK

probably alteration of Middle English twikken to pull sharply, from Old English twiccian to pluck — more at twitch

First Known Use: 1601

Rhymes with TWEAK

beak, bleak, cheek, chic, cleek, clique, creak, creek, Creek, eke, flic, freak, geek, gleek, Greek, keek, leak, leek, meek, peak, peek, peke, pic, pique, reek, screak, seek, sheikh, shriek, sic, Sikh, sleek, sneak, speak, squeak, steek, streak, streek, teak, weak, week