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\ ˈklamp 
\
\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
verbclamped; clamping; clamps
Definition 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 onclamped on a curfew after the riots
b : to hold tightly
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun San Francisco rushed 47 times for 186 yards, while the monster defense put the clamps on Dalvin Cook and the heat on Kirk Cousins.
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Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, "Opinion: With smackdown of Vikings, 49ers show they can win in any number of ways," 12 Jan. 2020 After the spin move, Jackson is there waiting and puts the clamps on.
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cleveland, "2020 NFL Draft: Breaking down the top tackles who could help the Cleveland Browns at pick No. 10 -- Film Review," 8 Jan. 2020 The depth-finder of bygone ice fishing seasons was little more than a lead weight molded around a toothy pinch clamp.
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Field & Stream, "10 High-Tech Tools to Change the Way You Ice Fish," 18 Dec. 2019 Lefrak inserted a needle below the aortic clamp and injected two liters of a chilly cardioplegic solution.
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oregonlive, "The tragic, redemptive journey of one human heart," 5 Oct. 2019 Take particular note of its newer, minimalist Lux mounts, with vent and dashboard versions along with variations that hold handsets via clamps or magnets.
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Julio Ojeda-zapata, Twin Cities, "MN drivers: If you want to use your phone in the car, you’ll need a mount. Here’s how to select one.," 25 July 2019 Step 26: Large Hole Use a pair of C-clamps to fasten the backing board to the surrounding drywall.
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Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, "How to Repair Drywall," 8 Feb. 2017 QB Joey Silveri is incredibly efficient and the CC defense can put the clamps on anyone’s offense.
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Mick Mccabe, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan high school football playoffs: Breaking down the entire field," 26 Oct. 2019 For many of these women, though, the past retains a lasting clamp on the present.
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Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, "Life After Prison for Women Who Served Decades Behind Bars," 22 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb That’s not bad for $50, although iOttie also has an auto-sensing version for $60 that will detect when your phone is near and automatically clamp the arms to hold it in place.
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Whitson Gordon, NBC News, "Best 6 wireless chargers for every charging need," 9 Dec. 2019 Macron, who sat coiled on the edge of his seat with one hand clamped firmly on his knee, replied.
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BostonGlobe.com, "LONDON — President Trump sat down in a gilded chair beside President Emmanuel Macron of France on Tuesday, prepared for what has become a ritual of sorts on his home turf at the White House: He holds forth as another leader is left to smile stoically through his jokes, jabs, and insults.," 4 Dec. 2019 Brake calipers clamp the disc pads, which are faced with friction material, against the rotor, converting kinetic energy into heat.
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Brad Bergholdt, chicagotribune.com, "Shudder likely indicates need for new brake pads and rotors," 3 Dec. 2019 There was the continual embrace of the mask, clamped to my face.
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Neil Steinberg, Quartz, "One billion people worldwide stop breathing while they sleep," 15 Dec. 2019 The six-inch size is particularly useful for small clamping jobs around the shop–just slide the jaw into position and squeeze the handle to produce up to 140 pounds of force.
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Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "18 Essential Tools For Your First Woodshop," 15 Oct. 2019 The image of a bear clamping a salmon between its powerful jaws is an iconic symbol of Hokkaido, reproduced on T-shirts and in wood carvings on sale in almost every souvenir shop.
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Author: Simon Denyer, Chris Mooney, Anchorage Daily News, "The climate chain reaction that threatens the heart of the Pacific," 13 Nov. 2019 Both the model and the cartoon bomb had gas masks clamped around their faces.
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Los Angeles Times, "The Hundreds’ first-ever fashion show hands a megaphone to indigenous streetwear brands," 16 Oct. 2019 Banks have clamped limits on withdrawals of U.S. dollars.
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Bassem Mroue, SFChronicle.com, "Fear, turmoil in Lebanon as its financial crisis worsens," 21 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese 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
nounEnglish 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\ ˈklamp \
\Kids Definition of clamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a device that holds or presses parts together firmly
clamp
verbclamped; clamping
Kids 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\ ˈklamp \
\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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Time Traveler for clamp
The first known use of clamp was in the 14th century
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