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Clamp vs Holdfast - What's the difference?

clamp | holdfast |

As nouns the difference between clamp and holdfast

is that clamp is a brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together while holdfast is something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.

As a verb clamp

is (intransitive) to fasten in place or together with (or as if with) a clamp .

clamp

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.
  • A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal coking.
  • A piece of wood (batten) across the grain of a board end to keep it flat, as in a breadboard.
  • A heavy footstep; a tramp.
  • Derived terms

    * clover clamp * nipple clamp

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (intransitive) To fasten in place or together with (or as if with) a clamp .
  • * 1897 , (Bram Stoker), (Dracula) Chapter 21
  • As we burst into the room, the Count turned his face, and the hellish look that I had heard described seemed to leap into it. His eyes flamed red with devilish passion. The great nostrils of the white aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge, and the white sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood dripping mouth, clamped together like those of a wild beast.
  • To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump or clomp.
  • * Thackeray
  • The policeman with clamping feet.
  • To hold or grip tightly.
  • To modify a numeric value so it lies within a specific range.
  • (UK, obsolete, transitive) To cover (vegetables, etc.) with earth.
  • Derived terms

    * clamp down

    See also

    * clasp * vise, vice

    holdfast

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.
  • (zoology) A root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate.
  • (archaic, medicine) Actinomycosis.