winch

noun \ ˈwinch \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of winch

1 : any of various machines or instruments for hauling or pulling; especially : a powerful machine with one or more drums on which to coil a rope, cable, or chain for hauling or hoisting : windlass

2 : a crank with a handle for giving motion to a machine (such as a grindstone)

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Recent Examples of winch from the Web

Witnesses at the Gunfighter Skies Air & Space Celebration had said Buchanan appeared to have lost control of his glider at 1:38 p.m. after the plane clipped the cable, which was attached to a winch trailer pulled by the truck.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "Comedy routine that went awry led to pilot's death at Mountain Home airshow, report says," 26 June 2018
The winch operator let out the cable and maintained tension as the glider climbed to about 1,500 feet.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "Comedy routine that went awry led to pilot's death at Mountain Home airshow, report says," 26 June 2018
As the terrain was inaccessible by foot, rescuers used a 60-foot winch to pull her out of the ravine.

— jessie yeung, CNN, "Missing Korean hiker survives six days at bottom of Australian ravine," 8 June 2018
In the water, the data center is partially submerged and held in place with 10 winches and cranes.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Microsoft's New Data Center Sits at the Bottom of the Sea," 7 June 2018
Delray Beach firefighters had to use a winch to pull the vehicles apart to get to the minivan, but the Raschiotto siblings and her children were already dead, Delray Beach police spokeswoman Dani Moschella said at the time.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fatal Delray Beach crash led to 'loss of his entire family at the same exact moment'," 8 May 2018
Claire Wiley, 13, was one of the grinders, cranking the winches to keep the Merloe gliding along like an elegant sea gull.

— hillary davis, latimes.com, "Junior sailors learn the ropes on big fast yacht as it preps for Newport to Ensenada race," 26 Apr. 2018
An electric winch hidden in the ceiling can lower it for replacing bulbs.

— judy rose, Detroit Free Press, "Lake Huron home, built by Carhartt granddaughter, rustic and elegant," 5 May 2018
Dozens made it through a barbed-wire barrier about 30 yards inside Gaza territory, deploying wire cutters, hooks and winches.

— New York Times, "Plan to Storm Fence Gets Bloody Preview in Gaza," 27 Apr. 2018

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