pinch

¹pinch

verb \ˈpinch\

Definition of PINCH

transitive verb

1

a : to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument

b : to prune the tip of (a plant or shoot) usually to induce branching

c : to squeeze or compress painfully

d : to cause physical or mental pain to

e (1) : to cause to appear thin, haggard, or shrunken (2) : to cause to shrivel or wither

2

a : to subject to strict economy or want : straiten

b : to restrain or limit narrowly : constrict

3

a : steal

b : arrest

4

: to sail too close to the wind

intransitive verb

1

: compress, squeeze

2

: to be miserly or closefisted

3

: to press painfully

4

: narrow, taper <the road pinched down to a trail — Cecelia Holland>

— pinch pennies

: to practice strict economy

Examples of PINCH

1. My little brother is always trying to pinch me.
2. He pinched her cheeks and told her how cute she was.
3. Pinch together the edges of the dough.
4. He pinched the top of his nose to stop the bleeding and leaned forward.
5. He pinched off the top of the shoots.
6. She pinched back the new growth.
7. These new shoes are pinching my toes.
8. I pinched my fingers in the door.
9. By pinching and scraping, she managed to save enough money to buy a new car.

Origin of PINCH

Middle English, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PINCH

Synonyms

nip

Antonyms

discharge

Related Words

crimp, tweak; clasp, clutch, grasp, grip, hold, take

Near Antonyms

drop, free, loose, loosen, release, spring

Rhymes with PINCH

chinch, cinch, clinch, finch, flinch, grinch, inch, lynch, Minch, squinch, winch

²pinch

noun

Definition of PINCH

1

a : a critical juncture : emergency

b (1) : pressure, stress (2) : hardship, privation

c : deficit

2

a : an act of pinching : squeeze

b : as much as may be taken between the finger and thumb <a pinch of snuff>

c : a very small amount

3

: a marked thinning of a vein or bed

4

a : theft

b : a police raid; also : arrest

Examples of PINCH

1. <the pinch of my favorite sweater really bugged me!>
2. <an innocent person caught up in a city-wide pinch of drug dealers>

First Known Use of PINCH

15th century

Related to PINCH

Synonyms

grab, heist, theft, rip-off, snatching, swiping

Antonyms

discharge

Related Words

break-in, burglary, holdup, mugging, stickup

Near Antonyms

emancipation, liberation, release

See Synonym Discussion at juncture

³pinch

adjective

Definition of PINCH

1

: substitute <pinch runner>

2

: hit by a pinch hitter <a pinch homer>

Examples of PINCH

1. A pinch homer won the game.

First Known Use of PINCH

1912

pinch

transitive verb \ˈpinch\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PINCH

: to squeeze or compress (a part of the body) usually in a painful or discomforting way <a pinched nerve caused by entrapment>