Adjacent Words

Clench definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CLENCH. [See Clinch.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a small slip noose made with seizing [syn: clinch, clench]
2: the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing" [syn: clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold] v
1: hold in a tight grasp; "clench a steering wheel" [syn: clench, clinch]
2: squeeze together tightly; "clench one's jaw"

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -clencan; akin to Old English clingan to cling Date: 13th century 1. clinch 2 2. to hold fast ; clutch <clenched the arms of the chair> 3. to set or close tightly <clench one's teeth> <clench one's fists> • clench noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 close (the teeth or fingers) tightly. 2 grasp firmly. 3 = CLINCH v. 4. --n. 1 a clenching action. 2 a clenched state. Etymology: OE f. Gmc: cf. CLING

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Clench Clench, n. & v. t. See Clinch.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(clenches, clenching, clenched) 1. When you clench your fist or your fist clenches, you curl your fingers up tightly, usually because you are very angry. Alex clenched her fists and gritted her teeth... She pulled at his sleeve and he turned on her, fists clenching again before he saw who it was. ...angry protestors with clenched fists. VERB: V n, V, V-ed 2. When you clench your teeth or they clench, you squeeze your teeth together firmly, usually because you are angry or upset. Patsy had to clench her jaw to suppress her anger... Slowly, he released his breath through clenched teeth. = grit VERB: V n, V-ed, also V 3. If you clench something in your hand or in your teeth, you hold it tightly with your hand or your teeth. I clenched the arms of my chair. = grip VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. [Written also Clinch.] Secure, fasten, rivet, and fig., confirm, establish, fix, secure. 2. Set, set firmly, clasp firmly, double, double up tightly. 3. Grasp firmly, clutch, seize and hold. II. n. Clinging grasp, clutch, persistent hold.

Moby Thesaurus

abduct, adhere to, bear hug, bite, carry off, clamp, clasp, cleave to, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, clutch, death grip, embrace, firm hold, foothold, footing, freeze to, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, hang on, hang on to, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hug, iron grip, keep hold of, kidnap, never let go, nip, purchase, seizure, shanghai, stick to, tenure, throttle, tight grip, toehold