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DictionarytweakSmall adjustment
verb / noun

tweak

TWEEK/twiːk/

A small twisting or pinching movement.

A slight tweak of the radio's knob adjusts its tuning.

A careful hand turns a small adjustment knob slightly on a radio to improve tuning; wordless controls.
Etymology
tweakMiddle Englishto draw, tug, pluck

Tweak probably comes from twikken, meaning to draw, tug, or pluck. Its earlier sense of a sharp pinch or twist shifted to making a small, precise adjustment.

In context

30X40 Design Workshop18:47
Return to your design and tweak it using the new information you’ve gathered.
Architecture Short Course: How to Develop a Design Concept

More examples

  • He tweaks his mustache while he studies the menu.
  • A sudden tweak on my sleeve gets my attention.
  • She gently tweaked his ear to wake him.

Forms

tweak · tweaks · tweaked · tweaking

Similar words

pinch
Emphasizes squeezing between fingers rather than twisting or pulling.
twist
Emphasizes turning something rather than pinching or tugging it.
tug
Emphasizes a short pull without necessarily pinching or twisting.