Frobnicate

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  frobnicate /frob'ni-kayt/ vt. [Poss. derived from {frobnitz}, and
     usually abbreviated to {frob}, but `frobnicate' is recognized as the
     official full form.] To manipulate or adjust, to tweak. One frequently
     frobs bits or other 2-state devices. Thus: "Please frob the light
     switch" (that is, flip it), but also "Stop frobbing that clasp; you'll
     break it". One also sees the construction `to frob a frob'. See {tweak}


     and {twiddle}.
  
     Usage: frob, twiddle, and tweak sometimes connote points along a
     continuum. `Frob' connotes aimless manipulation; `twiddle' connotes
     gross manipulation, often a coarse search for a proper setting; `tweak'
     connotes fine-tuning. If someone is turning a knob on an oscilloscope,
     then if he's carefully adjusting it, he is probably tweaking it; if he
     is just turning it but looking at the screen, he is probably twiddling
     it; but if he's just doing it because turning a knob is fun, he's
     frobbing it. The variant `frobnosticate' has been recently reported.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  frobnicate
       
          /frob'ni-kayt/ (Possibly from {frobnitz}, and usually
          abbreviated to {frob}, but "frobnicate" is recognised as the
          official full form).  To manipulate or adjust, to {tweak}.
          One frequently frobs bits or other 2-state devices.  Thus:
          "Please frob the light switch" (that is, flip it), but also
          "Stop frobbing that clasp; you'll break it".  One also sees
          the construction "to frob a frob".
       
          Usage: frob, {twiddle}, and {tweak} sometimes connote points
          along a continuum.  "Frob" connotes aimless manipulation;
          "twiddle" connotes gross manipulation, often a coarse search
          for a proper setting; "tweak" connotes fine-tuning.  If
          someone is turning a knob on an oscilloscope, then if he's
          carefully adjusting it, he is probably tweaking it; if he is
          just turning it but looking at the screen, he is probably
          twiddling it; but if he's just doing it because turning a knob
          is fun, he's frobbing it.  The variant "frobnosticate" has
          also been reported.
       
          (1994-12-16)