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tweak

(twēk)

v. tweaked, tweak·ing, tweaks

v.tr.

1. To pinch, pluck, or twist sharply: tweaked her sister's ear.

2. To adjust; fine-tune: tweaked her computer setup.

3. To make fun of; tease.

v.intr.
Slang

1. To behave in an agitated or compulsive manner, especially when under the influence of a stimulant drug.

2. To be under the influence of a stimulant drug, especially methamphetamine.

1. A sharp, twisting pinch.

2. A small adjustment: made a few tweaks to the sound system.

3. A teasing remark or action; a joke.

[Probably variant of dialectal twick, from Middle English twikken, from Old English twiccian.]

tweaker n.

tweaky adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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