tweak

[tweek] /twik/
verb (used with object)
1.
to pinch and pull with a jerk and twist:
to tweak someone's ear; to tweak someone's nose.
2.
to pull or pinch the nose of, especially gently:
He tweaked the baby on greeting.
3.
to make a minor adjustment to:
to tweak a computer program.
noun
4.
an act or instance of tweaking; a sharp, twisting pull or jerk.
Origin
1595-1605; akin to twitch
Examples from the web for tweak
  • Build a wider cup, adjust a few letters-in many cases, a simple design tweak can make a world of difference.
  • The bottom line: by all means use a calibration disc to tweak your set.
  • The government is trying to tweak the system to make it work better.
  • Sure, you could continuously tweak a skill, but that effort is at the expense of other possible efforts.
  • Plan the design on paper and then tweak it at planting time.
  • The ability to tweak well-known characters for modern times makes fairy tales particularly seductive.
  • Suppose scientists could figure out how to tweak the insula without damaging it.
  • The dean can then tweak their recommendation somewhat, and then work out the rest of the negotiable details.
  • After all, a tweak in the federal funds rate counts for little by itself.
  • All forms of learning and memory rely on synaptic plasticity, the ability of the brain to tweak the connections between neurons.
British Dictionary definitions for tweak

tweak

/twiːk/
verb (transitive)
1.
to twist, jerk, or pinch with a sharp or sudden movement: to tweak someone's nose
2.
(motor racing, slang) to tune (a car or engine) for peak performance
3.
(informal) to make a minor alteration
noun
4.
an instance of tweaking
5.
(informal) a minor alteration
Derived Forms
tweaky, adjective
Word Origin
Old English twiccian; related to Old High German zwecchōn; see twitch
Word Origin and History for tweak
v.

"pinch, pluck, twist," usually to the nose, probably from Old English twiccian "to pluck," of obscure origin; perhaps related to twitch. Meaning "to make fine adjustments" is attested from 1966. Related: Tweaked; tweaking. The noun in this sense is recorded by 1989.

Slang definitions & phrases for tweak

tweak

verb
  1. To adjust a computer program slightly; refine; fine-tune: Michael's code is elegant stuff, really fun to tweak (1980s+ Computer)
  2. To make minor adjustments; perfect: Is the President going to tweak emissions for seven years and then let them rip?/ He used the core of the President's plan, and from that he did some tweaking (1990s+)

[perhaps a memory of the days when a crystal was tweaked with a ''cat's whisker'' in order to tune a primitive radio receiver]


tweak in Technology


1. To change slightly, usually in reference to a value. Also used synonymously with twiddle. If a program is almost correct, rather than figure out the precise problem you might just keep tweaking it until it works. See frobnicate and fudge factor; also see shotgun debugging.
2. To tune or bum a program; preferred usage in the UK.
[Jargon File]