clamp

noun \ ˈklamp \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: clamp in a Sentence

Definition of clamp

1 : a device designed to bind or constrict or to press two or more parts together so as to hold them firmly

2 : any of various instruments or appliances having parts brought together for holding or compressing something

See clamp defined for English-language learners

See clamp defined for kids

Recent Examples of clamp from the Web

The slick black clamps at the bases of their skulls saw to that.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "A transgender girl rises up against alien invaders in Rich Larson’s novel Annex," 8 July 2018
Meanwhile Trae Young is 0-for-9 from the floor – as Javon Carter has put the clamps on him pic.twitter.com/FpeguBjJuu — Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 2, 2018 His first bucket would come three minutes into the third quarter.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Trae Young got off to a dreadful start in his first NBA Summer League game," 2 July 2018
Their easy-to-build device can be made for about $4.50 using wooden sticks, nails, stiff wire, two flexible wires, a clamp, and two empty water bottles.

— zipporah osei, BostonGlobe.com, "Fighting breast cancer, open space in Medway, and RoboGirls," 22 June 2018
The huge current demands of the starter motor--200 to 400 amps--can cause the battery clamps to heat up if the connection at the clamp to post isn't perfect.

— mike allen, Popular Mechanics, "Debunking 5 Cold-Weather Car Myths," 15 May 2018
Able to focus the brunt of its defensive clamps on the Spurs’ lone remaining All-Star, Golden State held Aldridge to 15.5 points on 41.3-percent shooting in the series.

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Spurs head west in search of a miracle," 12 Apr. 2018
The metal clamps holding the battery in place bowed from pressure building inside the expanding battery, but still the technicians kept cranking up the juice.

— rye druzin, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio R&D center gets new car battery testing facility," 9 June 2018
These 24-inch parallel clamps, for example, are built with ease of use in mind.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Today's Best Deals: Upgrade Your Audio With This Bose Sale," 1 May 2018
Fingertip fatigue reader The Masimo MightySat pulse oximeter is a convenient finger-clamp device that provides instant measurements of blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiration rate and respiration variability.

— roy m. wallack, latimes.com, "10 fitness and lifestyle devices you've never heard of — but will want right now," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clamp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clamp

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch *klampe; akin to Old English clamm bond, fetter — more at clam

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

clamp

verb

Definition of clamp

clamped; clamping; clamps

transitive verb

1 : to fasten with or as if with a clamp

clamp two boards together

2 a : to place by decree : impose —often used with on

clamped on a curfew after the riots

b : to hold tightly

See clamp defined for English-language learners

Examples of clamp in a Sentence

The surgeon clamped the vein.
He clamped the two pieces of wood together.
The bit was clamped firmly between the horse's teeth.
He clamped his mouth shut and refused to speak.

Recent Examples of clamp from the Web

Katharine’s hands are firmly clamped like vice grips onto her matching black handbag.

— mitchel benson, sacbee, "AIDS, death and the modern family take center stage in STC's 'Mothers and Sons'," 2 Apr. 2018
However, there is a ground lug on the firewall sheet metal about 18 inches away where the negative jumper cable or charger may be clamped.

— bob weber, chicagotribune.com, "Shifting from manual to automatic transmission can be a grind," 21 Jan. 2018
The 6-foot-9 Boston forward, who is a large man in his own right, clamped both hands down on James’ shoulders from behind, hoping to deliver a hard foul and stop the easy basket.

— al saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, "LeBron James: One man stands in the Warriors’ way," 30 May 2018
With so much pressure upon the Chemical Weapons Convention, President Trump has a window to try to clamp off the chemical pipeline between North Korea and Syria.

— theo emery, Time, "The North Korea Summit Is Trump's Chance to Pressure Syria About Its Weapons, Too," 4 June 2018
His body had clamped up the moment the green liquid touched his tongue.

— wesley snipes, The Root, "Talon of God," 27 May 2018
And one to clamp the forceps and extract the sought-after tooth.

— cristela guerra, BostonGlobe.com, "The MFA, the FBI, and the 4,000-year-old mummy," 25 Apr. 2018
The huge current demands of the starter motor--200 to 400 amps--can cause the battery clamps to heat up if the connection at the clamp to post isn't perfect.

— mike allen, Popular Mechanics, "Debunking 5 Cold-Weather Car Myths," 15 May 2018
The researchers and their colleagues injected a llama with the human β2-adrenergic receptor, which responds to adrenaline, and from the animal's blood prepared a set of nanobodies that clamped onto the receptor.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Mini-antibodies discovered in sharks and camels could lead to drugs for cancer and other diseases," 10 May 2018

First Known Use of clamp

1683

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

clamp Synonyms

CLAMP Defined for English Language Learners

clamp

noun

Definition of clamp for English Language Learners

: a device that holds or presses parts tightly together

clamp

verb

Definition of clamp for English Language Learners

: to hold or press (things or parts of a thing) tightly together with a device : to fasten or tighten (something) with a clamp
: to press or squeeze (something)

CLAMP Defined for Kids

clamp

noun \ ˈklamp \

Definition of clamp for Students

: a device that holds or presses parts together firmly

clamp

verb

Definition of clamp for Students

clamped; clamping

: to fasten or to hold tightly with or as if with a clamp

… Mom was driving with both hands clamped tightly around the wheel …
—Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control

Medical Dictionary

clamp

noun \ ˈklamp \

medical Definition of clamp

: any of various instruments or appliances having parts brought together for holding or compressing something; especially : an instrument used to hold, compress, or crush vessels and hollow organs and to aid in surgical excision of parts