ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Pinch

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /pɪnt͡ʃ/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Pinch is a verb meaning To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

Meaning

To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

More Meanings

  1. To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger.
  2. To squeeze between two objects.
  3. (intransitive) Of clothing, to be uncomfortably tight in specific spots.
  4. (horticulture) To cut shoots or buds of a plant in order to shape the plant, or to improve its yield.
  5. (nautical) To sail so close-hauled that the sails begin to flutter.
  6. (slang, transitive) To steal, usually something inconsequential.
  7. (slang, transitive) To arrest or capture.

Example Sentences

This shoe pinches my foot.
Someone has pinched my handkerchief!
The children were scolded for pinching each other.
“Hey, blokes,” yelled Dean or perhaps Serge, “let's pinch a boat.”

Word Forms

Synonyms for pinch

Depending on context, synonyms include crib, purloin, steal, abduct, abstract, appropriate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include twinge, tweak, squeeze, swipe, vellicate, crimp.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.