clamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈklamp 

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

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms

Verb

• fasten
• secure
• hitch
• anchor

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

But when the Thunder defense tightened the clamps, Haliburton couldn’t dribble his way out of trouble. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 June 2025

The camera comes with a mount that rotates 360 degrees and features a clamp to hold it securely in place. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 June 2025

Verb

The recumbent chair and whining drill, the blinding lights and masked faces overhead, the needle, the spit basin, and the X-ray film clamped between your teeth—every detail seems designed to inflame our fears. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025

Others are designed to mount to the side of your hamster’s cage, clamping the bars. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clamp

• C-clamp
• clamp down
• clamp down on
• clamp on
• wheel clamp

Rhymes for clamp

• amp
• champ
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp
• tamp
• tramp

Kids Definition

clamp

1 of 2 noun

ˈklamp 

: 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

ˈklamp 

: 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.