つまみ

noun

knob; handle; control button

A small part that is pinched, turned, pulled, or held with the fingers, such as a control knob or the knob on a lid.

• ラジオのつまみを回まわして音おん量りょうを下さげた。

  I turned the radio knob and lowered the volume.

• 鍋なべのふたのつまみが熱あつくなっている。

  The knob on the pot lid has gotten hot.

noun

snack with drinks; bar snack; side dish

Usually something eaten with alcohol. おつまみ is a very common polite or menu-like form, but plain つまみ is also ordinary.

• ビールのつまみに枝えだ豆まめを頼たのんだ。

  We ordered edamame as a snack with our beer.

• この店みせはつまみが安やすくてうまい。

  This place has cheap, tasty bar snacks.

suffix

a pinch of

Used in quantity expressions, especially ひとつまみ, for an amount that can be pinched between the fingers.

• 塩しおをひとつまみ加くわえて、味あじを調ととのえる。

  Add a pinch of salt and adjust the flavor.

noun

file handle; handle

Computing term corresponding to a handle, especially a file handle. In current technical writing, the loanword ハンドル is often clearer, so this use may feel translation-like.

• その資し料りょうでは、開ひらいたファイルを識しき別べつする値あたいを「ファイルのつまみ」と呼よんでいる。

  In that document, the value that identifies an open file is called a “file handle.”

noun, noun, used as a suffix

picking; plucking; harvesting

Only when written 摘み / 摘まみ

Nominal or compound use connected with picking or plucking by hand. As a standalone everyday word, this is much less immediately familiar than the knob or snack senses.

• 熟じゅくした実みの摘つまみ取とりは、朝あさのうちに行おこなう。

  The ripe fruit is picked in the morning.