punch Hear it!

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

punch² 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

punch Synonyms

punch

n.

  1. A blow

    thrust, knock, stroke; see blow 1.

  2. An instrument for denting or perforating].

    Types of punches include: blacksmith's, cooper's, nail, leather, ticket, duplex, center, drift, belt, blanking, culling, forming, drawing, redrawing, bending, coining, embossing, extruding, curling, seeming, trimming, doming, tracer, grounder, planisher, perloir, beading;

punch Synonyms

punch

v.

  1. To hit

    strike, knock, thrust against; see hit 1.

  2. To perforate

    pierce, puncture, bore; see penetrate 1.

punch Usage Examples

Object

  • hole: Why punched holes are not parallel to the edge of the sheets of paper?

Converse of object

  • pull: G F Newman has written a series which pulls few punches.
  • throw: The victim threw a punch at the youth, breaking one of his teeth, who promptly fled.
  • pack: This sweet little pink heart packs a powerful punch!

Adjective modifier

  • knock-out: We were both tired and he was going for a knock-out punch.
  • mid-range: At its heart is a retuned R1 motor with massively usable mid-range punch housed in a race-developed Deltabox frame.
  • visceral: The basic point is incredibly complex, examining tolerance, loyalty and cowardice with a visceral punch to the audience.
  • hefty: Not because of the number - tho at 10 million strong they pack a hefty punch - but the location.
  • mighty: It's a cool, sleek looking box that packs a mighty punch.
  • emotional: He, more than anyone, helps to ensure that the film carries such a strong emotional punch.

Modifies a noun

  • biopsy: This research involves a punch biopsy being taken from the skin.
  • bowl: Strain lemon juice into punch bowl, add hot liquid, serve at once.
  • bag: The balcony area is set up with punch bags for those who wish to let off steam or train for martial arts or boxing.

Noun used with modifier

  • rum: Antigua Best Cocktail Antigua Smile - a heady rum punch.
  • sucker: Instead we were waiting for the sucker punch, which duly arrived 60 seconds later.
  • knockout: Adams is a no nonsense throwback boxer who is always looking to unload a knockout punch.
  • killer: After the interval, Sleaford had the ball in the Kempston area for what seemed ages, but again that killer punch evaded us.
  • hole: Hole punch 2 holes in opposite sides of the bag about an inch from the top.

Preposition: in

  • gut: Something like that is like a punch in the gut, not so much in a negative way but a big shock.
  • stomach: I feel as if I've been punched in the stomach.