pincer

noun pin·cer \ ˈpin(t)-sər , especially for sense 1 US often ˈpin-chər \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of pincer

1 a pincers plural : an instrument having two short handles and two grasping jaws working on a pivot and used for gripping things

b : a claw (as of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers : chela

2 : pincer movement

—

pincerlike

play \ˈpin(t)-sər-ˌlīk\ adjective

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Recent Examples of pincer from the Web

In recent years, scientists have learned shrimp colonies are constantly at war: Males with extra-large pincers patrol the colony's perimeter like soldiers on guard duty, protecting the egg-laying queens.

— National Geographic, "These Neon Shrimp Are the Bees of the Sea—Here's Why," 14 Mar. 2018
The researchers turned their attention to the pupae, which have defensive sets of miniature pincers along their abdomens.

— asher elbein, New York Times, "Insects Flew Before Anything Else Did. So How Did They Get Their Wings?," 26 Mar. 2018
The entire closure process is controlled by a small collection of panels where the two arms of the pincer meet; changes there simply propagate down the arms.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Earwig’s wing inspires compact designs that fold themselves," 23 Mar. 2018
Soft grippers, which are typically controlled by changes in air pressure, can cram and wiggle into hard-to-reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible to hard pincers.

— daniela hernandez, WSJ, "Robots Are Learning to Handle With Care," 11 Mar. 2018
The team discovered that in snapping shrimp colonies with just one queen, that queen tends to lay more eggs and have a smaller pincer.

— National Geographic, "These Neon Shrimp Are the Bees of the Sea—Here's Why," 14 Mar. 2018
Even the familiar tales in this book are gripping—wooden ships in the pincers of an ice floe, flickering oil lamps, thin air.

— sara wheeler, WSJ, "‘Limits of the Known’ Review: What Is Left to Be Conquered," 2 Mar. 2018
So Wormwood this year got caught in a pincer that needs further exploration.

— gregg kilday, The Hollywood Reporter, "Academy President John Bailey Talks Museum Progress and Why He Won't Speak at the Oscars," 1 Mar. 2018
The backdrop to the pincer move on Anbang and its founder Wu Xiaohui, who is to be prosecuted for alleged fraud, is a robust economy that’s giving officials the running room to crack down on debt excesses without depressing growth.

— Bloomberg.com, "Xi’s Debt Crackdown Goes Into Hyperdrive With Anbang Takeover," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pincer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pincer

Middle English pinceour, from Anglo-French *pinceour, pinchure, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer to pinch, from Vulgar Latin *pinctiare, *punctiare, from Latin punctum puncture — more at point

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First Known Use: 14th century

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PINCER Defined for English Language Learners

pincer

noun

Definition of pincer for English Language Learners

pincers : a small tool that is used for holding or gripping small objects
: a claw of a lobster or crab and some insects

PINCER Defined for Kids

pincer

noun pin·cer \ ˈpin-chər , ˈpin-sər \

Definition of pincer for Students

1 pincers plural : a tool with two handles and two jaws for holding or gripping small objects

2 : a part (as the claw of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers

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pincer

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pincerlike

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PINCER Defined for English Language Learners

pincer

Definition of pincer for English Language Learners

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pincer

Definition of pincer for Students

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