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pinch

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Pinch means to squeeze between two surfaces, such as the thumb and a finger, or to pluck off the end of a plant, or to be frugal with money, or is slang for stealing.

(verb)

An example of pinch is for a child to squeeze his brother's arm between his index finger and thumb.
An example of pinch is to pluck off a dead flower off a plant.
An example of pinch is to save every penny and spend nothing.
An example of pinch is to shoplift.

Pinch is defined as a squeeze, or a difficulty, or a tiny amount of something.

(noun)

An example of a pinch is to use your thumb and index finger to squeeze the cheek of a small child.
An example of a pinch is a situation where a tough decision is required; to decide to do something in a pinch.
An example of a pinch is a tiny bit of salt in soup.

The definition of a pinch is a substitute hitter or runner in baseball.

(adjective)

An example of pinch used as an adjective is in the phrase "pinch runner," which means one player who is running for another one.

See pinch in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to squeeze between a finger and the thumb or between two surfaces, edges, etc.
to nip off the end of (a plant shoot), as for controlling bud development
to press painfully upon (some part of the body)
to cause distress or discomfort to
to cause to become thin, cramped, etc., as by hunger, pain, cold, etc.
to restrict closely; straiten; stint: usually in the passive voice
Slang
1. to steal
2. to arrest
Naut. to sail (a vessel) too close to the wind when closehauled

Origin: ME pinchen < NormFr *pincher < OFr pincier < VL *pinctiare < ? punctiare, to prick (see puncheon), infl. by *piccare: see picador

intransitive verb

to squeeze painfully
1. to be stingy or niggardly
2. to be frugal with expenses; economize
☆ Mining to become narrower; hence, to give (out): said of a vein of ore

noun

a pinching; squeeze or nip
1. the quantity that may be grasped between the finger and thumb
2. a small amount
distress; hardship; difficulty
an emergency; urgent situation or time: now usually in the phrase
Slang
1. a theft
2. an arrest or police raid

adjective

Baseball of or having to do with a substitute hitter or runner

Origin: < pinch

Related Forms:

pincher noun

See pinch in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pinched, pinch·ing, pinch·es

verb, transitive

To squeeze between the thumb and a finger, the jaws of a tool, or other edges.
To squeeze or bind (a part of the body) in a way that causes discomfort or pain: These shoes pinch my toes.
To nip, wither, or shrivel: buds that were pinched by the frost; a face that was pinched with grief.
To straiten: “A year and a half of the blockade has pinched Germany” (William L. Shirer).
Slang To take (money or property) unlawfully. See Synonyms at steal.
Slang To take into custody; arrest.
To move (something) with a pinch bar.
Nautical To sail (a boat) so close into the wind that its sails shiver and its speed is reduced.

verb, intransitive

To press, squeeze, or bind painfully: This collar pinches.
To be miserly.
Nautical To drag an oar at the end of a stroke.

noun

The act or an instance of pinching.
An amount that can be held between thumb and forefinger: a pinch of salt.
A painful, difficult, or straitened circumstance: felt the pinch of the recession.
An emergency situation: This coat will do in a pinch.
A narrowing of a mineral deposit, as in a mine.
Informal A theft.
Slang An arrest by a law enforcement officer.