clench
(redirected from clenches)Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
clench
grip tightly: Clench the tool firmly in your hand.; bring together, as teeth: She spoke through clenched teeth.
Not to be confused with:
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
clench
(klĕnch)tr.v. clenched, clench·ing, clench·es
1. To close tightly: clench one's teeth; clenched my fists in anger.
2. To grasp or grip tightly: clenched the steering wheel.
3. To clinch (a bolt, for example).
n.
1. A tight grip or grasp.
2. Something, such as a mechanical device, that clenches or holds fast.
[Middle English clenchen, from Old English -clencan (in beclencan, to hold fast).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
clench
(klɛntʃ)vb (tr)
1. to close or squeeze together (the teeth, a fist, etc) tightly
2. to grasp or grip firmly
n
3. a firm grasp or grip
4. (Tools) a device that grasps or grips, such as a clamp
n, vb
another word for clinch
[Old English beclencan, related to Old High German klenken to tie, Middle High German klank noose, Dutch klinken rivet]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
clench
(klɛntʃ)v.t.
1. to close (the hands, teeth, etc.) tightly.
2. to grasp firmly; grip.
v.i. 4. to close or knot up tightly.
n. 5. the act of clenching.
6. a tight hold; grip.
7. something that clenches or holds fast.
[1200–50; Middle English; compare Old English beclencan to hold fast]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
clench
Past participle: clenched
Gerund: clenching
| Imperative |
|---|
| clench |
| clench |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | clench - a small slip noose made with seizing double clinch - a clinch with two loops inside clinch - a clinch with the end of the line inside the loop running noose, slip noose, noose - a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot; it binds tighter as the cord or rope is pulled outside clinch - a clinch with the end of the line outside the loop vessel, watercraft - a craft designed for water transportation |
| 2. |  clench - the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"choke hold, chokehold - a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind; "he grabbed the woman in a chokehold, demanded her cash and jewelry, and then fled" embrace, embracement, embracing - the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection) prehension, taking hold, grasping, seizing - the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles) wrestling hold - a hold used in the sport of wrestling | |
| Verb | 1. | clench - hold in a tight grasp; "clench a steering wheel" |
| 2. | clench - squeeze together tightly; "clench one's jaw" grit - clench together; "grit one's teeth" squeeze - press firmly; "He squeezed my hand" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
clench
verbnoun
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
قَبَضَ بِشِدَّه
zatnout
bide sammenknytte
kreppa; herpa saman, bíta
sukąsti
cieši satvertsažņaugt
sıkıca kapamak
clench
[klentʃ] VT [+ teeth] → apretar; [+ fist] → cerrarto clench sth in one's hands → apretar algo en las manos
the clenched fist → el puño cerrado
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
clench
vt
fist → ballen; teeth → zusammenbeißen; (= grasp firmly) → packen; to clench something between one’s teeth → etw zwischen die Zähne klemmen; to clench something in one’s hands → etw mit den Händen umklammern; clenched-fist salute → Arbeiterkampfgruß m
? clinch VT a
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
clench
(klentʃ) verb to close tightly together. He clenched his teeth/fist.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
clench
vt (teeth, fist) apretar fuerte (los dientes, el puño)English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.