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
clamped; clamping; clamps
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
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
Tina Rivers Ryan, Artforum, 14 May 2026
Gone are the manual clamps or twist locks.
—Robb Rice, Robb Report, 10 May 2026
Olivia Allen, Vogue, 11 May 2026
The plush cushioning in the earcups, leatherette finish, and modest clamping force hold them securely.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clamp
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Noun
The microbes and the algae tend to flourish under these clamp lights; the optimal temperature for microbes is ninety-five degrees—armpit temperature.
—Tina Rivers Ryan, Artforum, 14 May 2026
Gone are the manual clamps or twist locks.
—Robb Rice, Robb Report, 10 May 2026
Verb
Wearing trending shades—Phoebe Philo’s oversized Bombé frames, currently clamped over the eyes of everyone from Elsa Hosk to Charli xcx—Rihanna embraced her inner lingerie mogul with bra-first fashion beneath her oversized blazer.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 11 May 2026
The plush cushioning in the earcups, leatherette finish, and modest clamping force hold them securely.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clamp
Cite this Entry
“Clamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamp. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clamp
1 of 2 noun
: a device that holds or presses parts together firmly
clamp
2 of 2 verb
: to fasten or tighten with or as if with a clamp
Medical Definition
clamp
1 of 2 noun
: 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
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to fasten with or as if with a clamp
the descending thoracic aorta was clamped—W. A. Banks et al.
W. A. Banks et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
