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to twist; to wrench; to turn (a tap, switch, etc.)
to twist (a body part); to bend; to sprain
to strangle (to death); to wring (an animal's neck)
to defeat easily; to beat
to make (a problem, design, etc.) intricate; to make peculiar; to make complicated
to manage to compose (a haiku, song, etc.)
蛇口を拈って水の量を調節した。
I turned the faucet to adjust the water flow.
彼は水道の蛇口をゆっくり拈った。
He slowly turned the water faucet.
問題が難しくて、首を拈っている。
The problem is difficult, and I am racking my brain over it.