What does tweeze mean?
Tweeze is a transitive verb meaning to grasp, pull, or remove something with tweezers or a similarly precise gripping action. In its most familiar use, a person tweezes a splinter, eyebrow hair, thorn, or other small object from a surface. The word can also describe extracting tiny details from a larger whole, as in tweezing facts from a report, though this figurative use is less common than the literal one. Tweeze normally implies delicacy and control rather than ordinary grabbing: the instrument and the action are closely linked in the word’s history. It is used in both British and American English, with no strong regional division. In descriptions of grooming, beauty, surgery, crafts, and repair work, tweeze is straightforward and technical; in conversation, expressions such as "tweeze it out" may sound casual or gently comic. The related noun tweezers names the familiar pinching instrument, while tweezer, tweezed, and tweezing are also derived forms. Overall, tweeze is useful where precision matters, making the act of picking out a minute object both vivid and exact.
verbTo grasp, pull, or extract something with tweezers or a similarly precise gripping action. By extension, it can mean to pick out or isolate something small from a larger whole.
- To grasp, pull, pluck, or extract something with tweezers.
- To pick out or isolate something small or precise from a larger whole.
"She leaned over the patient and carefully tweezed the tiny glass fragment from the wound."
"He used tweezers to tweeze the splinter from his finger."
"The editor tweezed several striking details from the report for the final paragraph."
Tweeze gives tweezers their most hands-on assignment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tweeze come from?
The verb tweeze was formed in the early 18th century from the established noun tweezers. Tweezers appears in English in the early 17th century and is generally traced to Dutch tweezer, associated with a Middle Dutch word meaning to pluck or pull. The ultimate origin of that older word is uncertain, so no more precise root should be assumed.
Related word forms
How tweeze is actually used
Usually transitive, taking the object being removed or selected. The literal sense is common in grooming, medical, craft, and repair contexts; figurative uses are possible but less frequent. Phrases such as "tweeze it out" can sound casual or gently humorous.
Easily confused with tweeze
Tweezers are the pinching instrument, whereas tweeze is the verb describing what is done with them.
Tease means to mock, annoy, or playfully provoke, while tweeze means to grasp or remove something precisely with tweezers.