wrench


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

wrench

a tool with jaws for gripping, turning, or twisting an object: Sometimes I have to use a wrench to open jars.
Not to be confused with:
wench – peasant girl; female servant; wanton woman: a saucy little wench
winch – a hoisting machine: They used a winch to hoist the wrecked cars onto the crusher.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
click for a larger image
wrench
left to right: ratcheting box, adjustable, and open end wrenches

wrench

 (rĕnch)
n.
1. Any of various hand or power tools, often having fixed or adjustable jaws, used for gripping, turning, or twisting objects such as nuts, bolts, or pipes, typically at an angle perpendicular to the object's axis.
2. A sudden, forcible twist, turn, or pull: gave the steering wheel a wrench.
3. An injury produced by twisting or straining: The fall gave my ankle a wrench.
4. A sudden feeling of compassion, sorrow, or anguish, or an act that causes such feeling: "Bidding goodbye to Buss was a wrench" (Edna O'Brien).
5. A distortion in the original form or meaning of something written or spoken; a twisted interpretation.
v. wrenched, wrench·ing, wrench·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To twist, turn, or pull suddenly and forcibly: wrenched the door open.
b. To twist and sprain: I wrenched my knee.
c. To turn using a wrench: wrenched the nut onto the bolt.
2.
a. To move, extract, or force free by twisting, turning, or pulling forcibly: wrenched the nail out of the board.
b. To free (oneself or a body part) by twisting, turning, or pulling: wrenched his arm from the thug's grasp.
3. To upset the feelings or emotions of; distress: Grief wrenched her heart.
4. To interpret unreasonably or inaccurately; distort: wrenched the text to prove her point.
v.intr.
1. To give a twist, turn, or pull: wrenched at the window trying to open it.
2. To cause distress: The memory wrenched at his conscience.

[From Middle English wrenchen, to twist, from Old English wrencan; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

wrench′ing·ly adv.
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.

wrench

(rɛntʃ)
vb
1. to give (something) a sudden or violent twist or pull esp so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached: to wrench a door off its hinges.
2. (Pathology) (tr) to twist suddenly so as to sprain (a limb): to wrench one's ankle.
3. (tr) to give pain to
4. (tr) to twist from the original meaning or purpose
5. (intr) to make a sudden twisting motion
n
6. a forceful twist or pull
7. (Pathology) an injury to a limb, caused by twisting
8. sudden pain caused esp by parting
9. a parting that is difficult or painful to make
10. a distorting of the original meaning or purpose
11. (Tools) a spanner, esp one with adjustable jaws. See also torque wrench
[Old English wrencan; related to Old High German renken, Lithuanian rangyti to twist. See wrinkle1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wrench

(rɛntʃ)
v.t.
1. to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist.
2. to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist.
3. to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.
4. to wrest, as from the right use or meaning; distort.
v.i.
5. to give a wrench or twist at something.
6. to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside.
n.
7. a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist.
8. a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.
9. a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.
10. a tool for gripping and turning or twisting the head of a bolt, a nut, a pipe, or the like, commonly consisting of a bar of metal with fixed or adjustable jaws.
[before 1050; (v.) Middle English; Old English wrencan to twist]
wrench′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

wrench


Past participle: wrenched
Gerund: wrenching

Imperative
wrench
wrench
Present
I wrench
you wrench
he/she/it wrenches
we wrench
you wrench
they wrench
Preterite
I wrenched
you wrenched
he/she/it wrenched
we wrenched
you wrenched
they wrenched
Present Continuous
I am wrenching
you are wrenching
he/she/it is wrenching
we are wrenching
you are wrenching
they are wrenching
Present Perfect
I have wrenched
you have wrenched
he/she/it has wrenched
we have wrenched
you have wrenched
they have wrenched
Past Continuous
I was wrenching
you were wrenching
he/she/it was wrenching
we were wrenching
you were wrenching
they were wrenching
Past Perfect
I had wrenched
you had wrenched
he/she/it had wrenched
we had wrenched
you had wrenched
they had wrenched
Future
I will wrench
you will wrench
he/she/it will wrench
we will wrench
you will wrench
they will wrench
Future Perfect
I will have wrenched
you will have wrenched
he/she/it will have wrenched
we will have wrenched
you will have wrenched
they will have wrenched
Future Continuous
I will be wrenching
you will be wrenching
he/she/it will be wrenching
we will be wrenching
you will be wrenching
they will be wrenching
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been wrenching
you have been wrenching
he/she/it has been wrenching
we have been wrenching
you have been wrenching
they have been wrenching
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been wrenching
you will have been wrenching
he/she/it will have been wrenching
we will have been wrenching
you will have been wrenching
they will have been wrenching
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been wrenching
you had been wrenching
he/she/it had been wrenching
we had been wrenching
you had been wrenching
they had been wrenching
Conditional
I would wrench
you would wrench
he/she/it would wrench
we would wrench
you would wrench
they would wrench
Past Conditional
I would have wrenched
you would have wrenched
he/she/it would have wrenched
we would have wrenched
you would have wrenched
they would have wrenched
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.wrench - a sharp strain on muscles or ligamentswrench - a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a hamstring pull"
harm, hurt, injury, trauma - any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
sprain - a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments
2.wrench - a jerky pulling movementwrench - a jerky pulling movement    
motion, movement - a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
3.wrench - a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or boltwrench - a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
adjustable spanner, adjustable wrench - an adjustable tool for gripping hexagonal nuts, with an adjustings crew in the head of the implement
Allen wrench - a wrench for Allen screws
alligator wrench - a wrench with a v-shaped jaw and serrations on one side (resembles the open jaws of an alligator)
box end wrench, box wrench - a wrench with a closed loop (a socket) that fits over a nut or bolt head
brace wrench - a wrench shaped like a brace (has a handle shaped like a crank) and a socket head
bulldog wrench - a wrench designed to provide a firm grip on something
carriage wrench - a wrench designed for use with carriage bolts
dog wrench - a wrench with a handle shaped like a crank
hand tool - a tool used with workers' hands
hook spanner, hook wrench - a wrench with a hook that fits over a nut or bolt head
jaw - holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
lug wrench - a wrench with jaws that have projecting lugs to engage the object that is to be rotated
open-end wrench, tappet wrench - a wrench having parallel jaws at fixed separation (often on both ends of the handle)
pin wrench - a wrench that has a projecting pin that fits into a socket on the object to be turned
screw key - a wrench for turning a screw
socket wrench - a wrench with a handle onto which sockets of different sizes can be fitted
sparkplug wrench - a wrench for removing or tightening spark plugs into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine
tap wrench - a wrench for turning a tap to create an internal screw thread
torque wrench - a wrench that has a gauge that indicates the amount of torque being applied
Verb1.wrench - twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originateswrench - twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates; "wrench a window off its hinges"; "wrench oneself free from somebody's grip"; "a deep sigh was wrenched from his chest"
pull - apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion; "Pull the rope"; "Pull the handle towards you"; "pull the string gently"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin"
2.wrench - make a sudden twisting motion
squirm, twist, worm, wriggle, writhe, wrestle - to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort"; "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace"
3.wrench - twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish; "Wring one's hand"
distort, twine, twist - form into a spiral shape; "The cord is all twisted"
contort, wring, deform, distort - twist and press out of shape
4.wrench - twist suddenly so as to sprainwrench - twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days"
injure - cause injuries or bodily harm to
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

wrench

verb
1. twist, force, pull, tear, rip, tug, jerk, yank, wring, wrest They wrenched open the passenger door and got into the car.
2. sprain, strain, rick, distort He had wrenched his ankle badly in the fall.
noun
1. twist, pull, rip, tug, jerk, yank The rope stopped his fall with a wrench that broke his neck.
2. sprain, strain, twist We are hoping the injury is just a wrench.
3. blow, shock, pain, ache, upheaval, uprooting, pang I knew it would be a wrench to leave home.
4. spanner, adjustable spanner, shifting spanner He took a wrench from his toolbox.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

wrench

noun
1. A sudden motion, such as a pull:
2. A tool with jaws for gripping and twisting:
Chiefly British: spanner.
verb
1. To injure a (bodily part) by twisting:
2. To move or cause to move with a sudden abrupt motion:
3. To alter the position of by a sharp, forcible twisting or turning movement:
4. To obtain by coercion or intimidation:
Slang: shake down.
5. To give an inaccurate view of by representing falsely or misleadingly:
Idiom: give a false coloring to.
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
لَي، خَلْع، سَحْبَة قَوِيَّهمِفْتَاحُ رَبْطمِفْتاح رَبْط أو شَد بَراغييَجْذِبُ بِشِدَّةيَلْوي، يَفْتِل
klíčodloučenívyškubnout
forvrideskruenøglevristeriveryk
jakoavainnyrjäyttäätuskallinen asiavääntää
boliščupatiključ za matice
állítható csavarkulcsfranciakulcskiránt
kippa, rykkjarykkur, kippurskrúflykilltogna
スパナねじりねじる
비틀다스패너쓰림
izgrieztizmežģījumsizmežģītizrautrāviens
francúzsky kľúčvykrútenievytrhnutievyvrtnúť
ključ za vijake
ryckryckaskruvnyckel
กุญแจเลื่อนดึงและบิดอย่างแรงอาการกลัดกลุ้มใจอย่างแรง
İngiliz anahtarısertçe tutup çekmekşiddetle asılmaşiddetle asılmakburkmak
cờ lêsự vặn mạnhvặn mạnh

wrench

[rentʃ]
A. N
1. (= tug) → tirón m, jalón m (LAm)
to give sth a wrenchtirar or (LAm) jalar algo (con violencia or fuerza)
2. (Med) → torcedura f
3. (= tool) → llave f inglesa, llave f de tuerca
4. (fig) it was a wrench to see her godolió mucho verla partir
B. VT
1. to wrench sth off/(away) from/out ofarrancar algo de
he wrenched himself freehaciendo un gran esfuerzo se soltó
to wrench a door openabrir una puerta de un tirón or (LAm) jalón
2. (Med) → torcerse
C. VI he wrenched freehaciendo un gran esfuerzo se soltó
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

wrench

[ˈrɛntʃ]
n
(TECHNICAL) (also monkey wrench) → clé f à molette
(= tug) → violent mouvement m de torsion
(British) (emotional)crève-cœur m
It was a great wrench to leave home → C'était un crève-cœur que de quitter la maison.
vt
(= pull violently) → arracher
to wrench sth from sb → arracher qch à qn
Two men wrenched the suitcase from his hand → Deux hommes lui arrachèrent la valise de la main.
to wrench sth away → arracher qch
to wrench sth out of sb's hand → arracher qch des mains de qn
to wrench sth open → tirer sur qch avec force et l'ouvrir
I wrenched the door open → Je tirai sur la porte avec force et l'ouvris.
to wrench o.s. free → se dégager
to wrench o.s. from → se dégager de
(= twist) [+ ankle, knee, arm] → se tordre
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

wrench

n
(= tug)Ruck m; (Med) → Verrenkung f; to give something a wrencheiner Sache (dat)einen Ruck geben; he gave his shoulder a nasty wrencher hat sich (dat)die Schulter schlimm verrenkt
(= tool)Schraubenschlüssel m
(fig) to be a wrenchwehtun; the wrench of partingder Trennungsschmerz
vt
(= tug)winden; to wrench something (away) from somebodyjdm etw entwinden; to wrench a door openeine Tür aufzwingen; to wrench a door off its hingeseine Tür aus den Angeln reißen; he wrenched the steering wheel rounder riss das Lenkrad herum; to wrench somebody’s arm out of its socketjdm den Arm ausrenken
(Med) to wrench one’s ankle/shouldersich (dat)den Fuß/die Schulter verrenken
(fig)reißen; if you could wrench yourself away from the TVwenn du dich vom Fernseher losreißen könntest
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

wrench

[rɛntʃ]
1. n
a. (tug) → strattone m
to give sth a wrench → dare uno strattone a qc
b. (tool) → chiave f
c. (fig) → strazio
2. vt
a. to wrench sth (away) from or off sbstrappare qc a qn
he wrenched it out of my hands → me lo ha strappato di mano
she wrenched herself free → si liberò con uno strattone
to wrench a door open → aprire bruscamente una porta
b. (Med) → slogare, storcere
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

wrench

(rentʃ) verb
1. to pull with a violent movement. He wrenched the gun out of my hand.
2. to sprain. to wrench one's shoulder.
noun
1. a violent pull or twist.
2. a type of strong tool for turning nuts, bolts etc.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

wrench

مِفْتَاحُ رَبْط, يَجْذِبُ بِشِدَّة klíč, odloučení, vyškubnout forvride, skruenøgle entreißen, Ruck, Schraubenschlüssel κλειδί, πόνος χωρισμού, στραμπουλώ arrancar, dolor, llave inglesa, nostalgia jakoavain, tuskallinen asia, vääntää clé anglaise, déchirement, déchirer bol, iščupati, ključ za matice chiave inglese, strappare スパナ, ねじり, ねじる 비틀다, 스패너, 쓰림 moeilijk, moersleutel, wringen fastnøkkel, vri, vridning klucz (maszynowy) płaski, szarpnąć, szarpnięcie arrancar, chave inglesa, problema, puxão выкручивание, выкручивать, гаечный ключ ryck, rycka, skruvnyckel กุญแจเลื่อน, ดึงและบิดอย่างแรง, อาการกลัดกลุ้มใจอย่างแรง burma, burmak, İngiliz anahtarı cờ lê, sự vặn mạnh, vặn mạnh 扳手, 猛扭, 痛苦
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

wrench

vt to — one's back (fam) lastimarse la espalda
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
From those visits to unsanitary Houndsley streets in search of Diamond, he had brought back not only a bad bargain in horse-flesh, but the further misfortune of some ailment which for a day or two had deemed mere depression and headache, but which got so much worse when he returned from his visit to Stone Court that, going into the dining-room, he threw himself on the sofa, and in answer to his mother's anxious question, said, "I feel very ill: I think you must send for Wrench."
She was not fond of letter-writing and she had allowed her correspondence to accumulate; but she was disposing of it in an energetic and conscientious way, when the entrance of Wrench, the butler, interrupted her.
The tall soldier weakly tried to wrench himself free.
The orang-outang, troubled by some dream of the forests of his freedom, began to yell like a soul in purgatory, and to wrench madly at the bars of the cage.
Crying to them to keep fast the door as best they might, he sprang to the window, hoping by his great strength to wrench the iron bars from their places and escape that way.
In the chancel was a twisted stone column, and the captain told us a legend about it, of course, for in the matter of legends he could not seem to restrain himself; but I do not repeat his tale because there was nothing plausible about it except that the Hero wrenched this column into its present screw-shape with his hands --just one single wrench.
It was with a wrench and a pang that Edna left her children.
Did she go quickly from under the men's feet, or did she resist to the end, letting the sea batter her to pieces, start her butts, wrench her frame, load her with an increasing weight of salt water, and, dismasted, unmanageable, rolling heavily, her boats gone, her decks swept, had she wearied her men half to death with the unceasing labour at the pumps before she sank with them like a stone?
When from dark error's subjugation My words of passionate exhortation Had wrenched thy fainting spirit free; And writhing prone in thine affliction Thou didst recall with malediction The vice that had encompassed thee: And when thy slumbering conscience, fretting By recollection's torturing flame, Thou didst reveal the hideous setting Of thy life's current ere I came: When suddenly I saw thee sicken, And weeping, hide thine anguished face, Revolted, maddened, horror-stricken, At memories of foul disgrace.
"Why did the Crocodile wait to have them wrenched out?" said Sylvie.
He saw the head of the wave topple over, adding the mite of its crash to the tremendous uproar raging around him, and almost at the same instant the stanchion was wrenched away from his embracing arms.
Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a woeful agony, Which forced me to begin my tale; And then it left me free.