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Spanner vs Clamp - What's the difference?

spanner | clamp |

As nouns the difference between spanner and clamp

is that spanner is (spann) while clamp is a brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.

As verbs the difference between spanner and clamp

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

spanner

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (Australian, NZ, British, Irish) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.
  • Pass me that spanner , Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.
  • (rare) One who, or that which, spans.
  • * 1915 , Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems
  • The scheme of the spanner of continents and the desire of the little husbandman hoarding for his loved ones...
  • (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
  • :* 1786 , Fig. 10. The spanner for spanning or winding up the spring of the wheel lock. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page xvi.
  • (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
  • (UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works )
  • Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.
  • (British, Irish, mildly, derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
  • You spanner , Rodney! I wanted a Chinese, not an Indian!

    Synonyms

    * (hand tool for nuts and bolts) wrench (US)

    Descendants

    * Malay: (l)

    Anagrams

    *

    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