clamp
noun
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Definition of clamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
clamp
verbDefinition of clamp (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to fasten with or as if with a clamp clamp two boards together
2a : to place by decree : impose —often used with on clamped on a curfew after the riots
b : to hold tightly
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Synonyms & Antonyms for clamp
Synonyms: Verb
anchor, catch, fasten, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set
Antonyms: Verb
loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen
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Examples of clamp in a Sentence
Verb
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 on the Web: Noun
The team took basalt columns from Iceland and hooked them up to clamps at each end. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Uncover the Secret of Strange, Geometrical Rock Formations," 12 Apr. 2018 Stethoscopes around their necks, with alligator clamps on one end and gears on the opposite end. — Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press, "FIRST Championship: Wacky, 'weird' costumes, high fives and wild crowds," 26 Apr. 2018 Disconnect their electrical plugs and then the dryer vent, which should be a simple squeeze-to-loosen metal ring or a ring clamp loosened by a screwdriver. — Matthew Jancer, Popular Mechanics, "8 Tips to Help You Move Like a Pro," 11 July 2018 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. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The audience’s natural desire to see the two pair off is undercut by Higgins’s firmly clamped-on armor and Eliza’s angry intelligence. — Corby Kummer, The Atlantic, "How Do Carousel and My Fair Lady Fare in 2018?," 8 July 2018 The odd-looking wing pads that replace the traditional padded headband on these headphones work very well, and the overall clamping force is perfect for keeping them securely on my head without creating any sense of undue pressure. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Audio-Technica R70x review: the definition of neutral headphones," 6 July 2018 Pacella scrambled and squeezed between two file cabinets and a stack of papers, clamping her hand over her mouth to stifle her whimpering. — Jean Marbella, baltimoresun.com, "Capital Gazette shooting: How a quiet day in the newsroom was shattered," 1 July 2018 His umbilical cord was clamped with the kind of plastic twist-tie used to secure a garbage bag. — Anchorage Daily News, "Anchorage newborn abandoned in a cardboard box 30 years ago now is trying to find his birth family," 17 May 2016 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 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for clamp
clamp
noun
English Language Learners Definition of clamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a device that holds or presses parts tightly together
clamp
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of clamp (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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)
See the full definition for clamp in the English Language Learners Dictionary
clamp
noun
\
Kids Definition of clamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a device that holds or presses parts together firmly
clamp
verbKids Definition of clamp (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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
clamp
noun
\
Medical Definition of clamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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 an arterial clamp
clamp
transitive verbMedical Definition of clamp (Entry 2 of 2)
: to fasten with or as if with a clamp the descending thoracic aorta was clamped— W. A. Banks et al
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