עָזַק (b. h. Pi.; cmp. חָזַק) [to press,] 1) to break clods and level the ground; to break ground; to till. Men. 85ᵇ היה עוֹזֵק תחת זיתיו (cmp. בָּלַשׁ; Yalk. Deut. 962 עוסק; Yalk. Prov. 950 מוסק) was hacking and levelling the ground under his olive trees. Ohol. XVIII, 5 העוזק בית הפרס he who breaks a field suspected of containing human bones (v. פְּרָס). Tosef. ib. XVII, 9 עֲזָקוֹ אין לך בדיקה וכ׳ if he broke the ground, there is no better way of examining than this. Y. R. Hash. II, 58ᵃ top (ref. to בית יעזק, v. יַעְזֵק) ששם היו עוֹזְקִין את ההלכה for there they cultivated (levelled) the law; a. e. —2) to hold fast. Ḥull. 94ᵃ עוזק אחת בפיו וכ׳ holding one piece in his mouth and two in his hands.