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
Synonyms
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
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2024
The company — whose founder Elon Musk recently announced plans to move the company’s headquarters from Hawthorne, Calif., to the outskirts of Brownsville, Texas — said the leak developed when the line cracked due to a loose clamp.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Without the injection, autotomy was seen mostly in animals that had arms that were clamped closest to the autotomy plane.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clamp 
Noun
Check to ensure the filter lid and clamp band are secure before and after blowing out the water lines.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2024
The company — whose founder Elon Musk recently announced plans to move the company’s headquarters from Hawthorne, Calif., to the outskirts of Brownsville, Texas — said the leak developed when the line cracked due to a loose clamp.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Verb
It’s got nothing to do with the weight and everything to do with the soft cushioning and low clamping force on the headband.
—Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Without the injection, autotomy was seen mostly in animals that had arms that were clamped closest to the autotomy plane.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clamp
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clamp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clamp
Cite this Entry
“Clamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamp. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
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
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