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punch1 definition

punch (punc̸h)

noun

    1. a tool driven or pressed against a surface that is to be stamped, pierced, etc.
    2. a tool driven against a nail, bolt, etc. that is to be worked in, or against a pin that is to be worked out
  2. a device or machine for making holes, cuts, etc. a paper punch
  3. the hole, cut, etc. made with a punch

Etymology: prob. < var. of ponchon: see puncheon

transitive verb

  1. to pierce, shape, stamp, cut, etc. with a punch
  2. to make (a hole, cut, etc.) with or as with a punch
punch2 definition

punch (punc̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to prod or poke with a stick
  2. ☆ to herd or drive (cattle)
  3. to strike with the fist
  4. to depress or push (a push button, a key on a keypad, etc.)

Etymology: ME punchen, orig. var. of pouncen (see pounce): infl. by punch

noun

  1. a thrusting blow with the fist
  2. ☆ Informal effective force; vigor
punch Idioms

beat to the punch

to be quicker than (another) in doing something, as in striking a blow

pull one's punches

Informal
  1. Boxing to deliver blows that are intentionally ineffective
  2. to attack, criticize, etc. in an intentionally ineffective manner

punch a (time) clock

☆
to insert a timecard into a time clock when coming to or going from work

punch in

  1. ☆ to record the time of one's arrival by means of a time clock
  2. to feed (data) as into a computer by pressing buttons or keys

punch out

  1. ☆ to record the time of one's departure by means of a time clock
  2. Slang to beat up

punch up

  1. Brit., Informal to beat up
  2. Informal to enhance, accentuate, or heighten the effect of to punch up a dish with spices
punch3 definition

punch (punc̸h)

noun

a sweetened drink made with fruit juices, carbonated beverages, sherbet, etc., often mixed with wine or liquor, and served in cups from a large bowl

Etymology: Hindi pañca, five < Sans páñca (see five): it orig. consisted of five ingredients

Punch definition

Punch (punc̸h)

noun

the male character of the puppet show Punch and Judy, a hook-nosed, humpbacked figure

Etymology: contr. after Punchinello, earlier Polichinello, a character in a Neapolitan puppet play < It Pulcinella < VL *pullicinus < LL pullicenus, young chicken, dim. of L pullus: see poultry

Punch Idioms

pleased as Punch

greatly pleased or gratified

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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