pinch´er

pinch´er
pinch «pihnch», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to squeeze between the thumb and forefinger, with the teeth or claws, or with any instrument having two jaws or parts between which something may be grasped: »

Father pinched the baby's cheek playfully.

SYNONYM(S): nip, tweak.
2. to press so as to hurt; squeeze: »

He pinched his finger in the door. These shoes pinch my feet.

3. Figurative. to cause sharp discomfort or distress to, as cold, hunger, or want does.
4. Figurative. to cause to shrink or become thin: »

a face pinched by hunger.

5. to cause (a plant) to shrivel or wither up, as by frost.
6. Figurative. to bring into difficulty or trouble; afflict: »

The king finding his affairs pinch him at home (Daniel Defoe).

7. Figurative. a) to limit closely; stint: »

to be pinched for space or time. With earnings pinched by disappointing demand, the oil companies would like to cut their reliance on domestic oil (Wall Street Journal).

b) to limit or restrict closely the supply of (anything); be stingy with: »

The miser pinched pennies on food to the point of near starvation.

8. to put in or add by pinches or small quantities: »

The cook pinched more salt into the soup each time she sampled it.

9. Slang. to arrest.
10. Slang. to steal; purloin: »

His father caught him pinching apples.

11. to sail (a vessel) close to the wind to such a degree that the sails shake.
12. to move (something heavy) by a succession of small heaves with a pinch bar.
–v.i.
1. to exert a squeezing pressure or force; compress: »

Where does that shoe pinch?

2. Figurative. to cause discomfort or distress: »

Here's the pang that pinches (Shakespeare).

3. to be stingy; stint oneself: »

Her father and sister were obliged to pinch, in order to allow her the small luxuries (Elizabeth Gaskell).

4. (of a vein or deposit of ore) to become narrower or smaller; give out altogether.
–n.
1. the act of pinching; a squeeze between two hard edges; nip.
2. a sharp pressure that hurts; squeeze: »

the pinch of tight shoes.

3. a) as much as can be taken up with the tip of the finger and thumb: »

a pinch of salt or snuff.

b) Figurative. a very small quantity. SYNONYM(S): bit.
4. Figurative. sharp discomfort or distress: »

the pinch of poverty, the pinch hunger.

5. a time of special need; emergency: »

I will help you in a pinch.

SYNONYM(S): hardship, strait.
6. Slang. an arrest.
7. Slang. a stealing.
8. = pinch bar. (Cf.pinch bar)
[perhaps < Old North French pinchier, variant of Old French pincier; origin uncertain. Compare Vulgar Latin pīccāre to pierce, Flemish pinssen.]
pinch´er, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • Pinch — Pinch, n. 1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip. [1913 Webster] 2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff. [1913 Webster] 3. Pian; pang.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pinch — [n1] tight pressing compression, confinement, contraction, cramp, grasp, grasping, hurt, limitation, nip, nipping, pressure, squeeze, torment, tweak, twinge; concept 728 pinch [n2] small amount bit, dash, drop, jot, mite, small quantity, soupçon …   New thesaurus

  • Pinch — Pinch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pinched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pinching}.] [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch; akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin. Cf. {Piece}.] 1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pinch — pinch; pinch·able; pinch·er; pinch·beck; pinch·ing; pinch·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • pinch — ► VERB 1) grip (the flesh) tightly between finger and thumb. 2) (of a shoe) hurt (a foot) by being too tight. 3) tighten (the lips or a part of the face). 4) informal, chiefly Brit. steal. 5) informal arrest. 6) live in a frugal way …   English terms dictionary

  • pinch — [pinch] vt. [ME pinchen < NormFr * pincher < OFr pincier < VL * pinctiare < ? punctiare, to prick (see PUNCHEON1), infl. by * piccare: see PICADOR] 1. to squeeze between a finger and the thumb or between two surfaces, edges, etc. 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • Pinch — Pinch, v. i. 1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches. [1913 Webster] 2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. Gower. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pinch — Pinch, WV U.S. Census Designated Place in West Virginia Population (2000): 2811 Housing Units (2000): 1194 Land area (2000): 3.507567 sq. miles (9.084557 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.037141 sq. miles (0.096194 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.544708… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Pinch, WV — U.S. Census Designated Place in West Virginia Population (2000): 2811 Housing Units (2000): 1194 Land area (2000): 3.507567 sq. miles (9.084557 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.037141 sq. miles (0.096194 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.544708 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

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