CLENCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does clench mean? 

• CLENCH (noun)
  The noun CLENCH has 2 senses:

1. a small slip noose made with seizing

2. the act of grasping

  Familiarity information: CLENCH used as a noun is rare.

• CLENCH (verb)
  The verb CLENCH has 2 senses:

1. hold in a tight grasp

2. squeeze together tightly

  Familiarity information: CLENCH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLENCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small slip noose made with seizing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

clench; clinch

Hypernyms ("clench" is a kind of...):

noose; running noose; slip noose (a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot; it binds tighter as the cord or rope is pulled)

Domain category:

vessel; watercraft (a craft designed for water transportation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clench"):

double clinch (a clinch with two loops)

inside clinch (a clinch with the end of the line inside the loop)

outside clinch (a clinch with the end of the line outside the loop)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of grasping

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

clasp; clench; clutch; clutches; grasp; grip; hold

Context example:

she kept a firm hold on the railing

Hypernyms ("clench" is a kind of...):

grasping; prehension; seizing; taking hold (the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clench"):

choke hold; chokehold (a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind)

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

wrestling hold (a hold used in the sport of wrestling)

Derivation:

clench (hold in a tight grasp)

• CLENCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they clench    ... he / she / it clenches   
Past simple: clenched   
Past participle: clenched   
-ing form: clenching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hold in a tight grasp

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

clench; clinch

Context example:

clench a steering wheel

Hypernyms (to "clench" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

clench (the act of grasping)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Squeeze together tightly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

clench one's jaw

Hypernyms (to "clench" is one way to...):

squeeze (press firmly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clench"):

grit (clench together)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Stanley Hopkins swore between his teeth, and struck his thigh with his clenched hand.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He felt power move in him, and clenched his fists.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"But—" she began vehemently, then clenched her hands and stopped.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

For all the world like a woman wringing her hands, he raised his clenched fists and groaned.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“The hussy!” cried Lady Loring clenching her broad right hand.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I glanced back at the coach, and I saw Lady Lade, with her savage little white teeth clenched together, throw herself forward and tug with both hands at the off-side reins.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sterndale’s fierce face turned to a dusky red, his eyes glared, and the knotted, passionate veins started out in his forehead, while he sprang forward with clenched hands towards my companion.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Their tallest trees are about seven feet high: I mean some of those in the great royal park, the tops whereof I could but just reach with my fist clenched.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

An involuntary or unconscious clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleep.

(Bruxism, NCI Thesaurus)