CLINCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does clinch mean? 

• CLINCH (noun)
  The noun CLINCH has 5 senses:

1. (boxing) the act of one boxer holding onto the other to avoid being hit and to rest momentarily

2. a small slip noose made with seizing

3. the flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivet

4. a device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together

5. a tight or amorous embrace

  Familiarity information: CLINCH used as a noun is common.

• CLINCH (verb)
  The verb CLINCH has 6 senses:

1. secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts

2. hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches

3. hold in a tight grasp

4. embrace amorously

5. flatten the ends (of nails and rivets)

6. settle conclusively

  Familiarity information: CLINCH used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLINCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(boxing) the act of one boxer holding onto the other to avoid being hit and to rest momentarily

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

evasive action; maneuver; manoeuvre (an action aimed at evading an opponent)

Domain category:

boxing; fisticuffs; pugilism (fighting with the fists)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small slip noose made with seizing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

clench; clinch

Hypernyms ("clinch" 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 "clinch"):

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)

Derivation:

clinch (secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)

Holonyms ("clinch" is a part of...):

bolt (a screw that screws into a nut to form a fastener)

nail (a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener)

rivet (heavy pin having a head at one end and the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces that are fastened together)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

clamp; clinch

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

holding device (a device for holding something)

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

bench clamp (a clamp used to hold work in place on a workbench)

C-clamp (a clamp in the shape of the letter C)

cramp (a clamp for holding pieces of wood together while they are glued)

pipe clamp; pipe vise (a clamp for holding pipe that is to be cut or threaded)

press (clamp to prevent wooden rackets from warping when not in use)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A tight or amorous embrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

clinch; hug; squeeze

Context example:

come here and give me a big hug

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

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

Derivation:

clinch (hold in a tight grasp)

• CLINCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they clinch    ... he / she / it clinches   
Past simple: clinched   
Past participle: clinched   
-ing form: clinching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The girder was clinched into the wall

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

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Verb group:

clinch (flatten the ends (of nails and rivets))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

clinch (a small slip noose made with seizing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

hold; take hold (have or hold in one's hands or grip)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 3

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 "clinch" is one way to...):

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

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

clinch (a tight or amorous embrace)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Embrace amorously

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

bosom; embrace; hug; squeeze (hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Flatten the ends (of nails and rivets)

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

the nails were clinched

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

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Verb group:

clinch (secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Settle conclusively

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

clinch a deal

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

determine; settle; square off; square up (settle conclusively; come to terms)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

clincher (a point or fact or remark that settles something conclusively)

 Context examples 

Her father always contended I was a socialist, and this miserable stuff will clinch his belief.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Dying men had sworn to it, and to the mine the site of which it marked, clinching their testimony with nuggets that were unlike any known grade of gold in the Northland.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Hall Pycroft shook his clinched hands in the air.

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

"That very finger," he managed to articulate, as though it somehow clinched the proof of ownership and the bond of affection.

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

The boy had some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of the Doctor’s voice and saw the fury with which he shook his clinched fists at him.

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

From these embers the inspector disinterred the butt end of a green cheque book, which had resisted the action of the fire; the other half of the stick was found behind the door; and as this clinched his suspicions, the officer declared himself delighted.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Joe had clinched and attempted to throw him, and he was twisting and writhing out of the advantage of the other's hold.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)