Pinch
volume
British pronunciation/pˈɪnt‍ʃ/
American pronunciation/ˈpɪntʃ/

Definition & Meaning of "pinch"

to pinch
01

to tightly grip and squeeze something, particularly someone's flesh, between one's fingers

Transitive: to pinch sb/sth
to pinch definition and meaning
example
Example
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The chef instructed the students to pinch the edges of the pastry to create a decorative pattern.
To wake up her sleepy friend, she decided to pinch him playfully on the arm.
He had to pinch the bridge of his nose to alleviate the growing headache.
02

to compress or press one's lips together, typically as a reaction to stress, tension, or discomfort

Transitive: to pinch one's lips
example
Example
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The patient pinched her lips, feeling anxious before the medical procedure.
The child pinched her lips, feeling nervous before the performance.
He pinched his lips as he listened to the bad news.
03

to cause discomfort or distress

Transitive: to pinch one's body or mind
example
Example
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The memory of the accident still pinched his mind.
The sharp criticism from her boss pinched her self-esteem.
The tight shoes were pinching her toes, causing discomfort throughout the day.
04

to remove the growing tip or end portion of a plant to encourage branching or bushier growth

Transitive: to pinch the tips of a plant
example
Example
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To shape the bonsai tree, the gardener carefully pinched the new growth at the tips.
To encourage a more compact shape, she regularly pinches the tips of her potted geraniums.
The florist pinched the ends of the rose stems to encourage lateral growth and more blooms.
05

to take something in a somewhat sneaky manner

Transitive: to pinch sth
example
Example
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He pinched some cookies from the cookie jar before dinner.
She pinched a few candies from the jar without her mother noticing.
He pinched some money from his brother 's wallet to buy video games.
06

to take someone into custody

Transitive: to pinch sb
InformalInformal
example
Example
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The officers pinched the gang members during the raid.
The police pinched him for shoplifting at the supermarket.
The detectives pinched the suspect as he tried to board the train.
Pinch
01

the act of grasping or squeezing something firmly between the thumb and fingers

pinch definition and meaning
example
Example
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With a pinch, she plucked a stray hair from her sweater.
He used a pinch to pick up the tiny thread from the floor.
With a precise pinch, she adjusted the tiny screws on the eyeglass frame.
02

a slight amount of something one can hold between the index finger and thumb

pinch definition and meaning
example
Example
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A pinch of sugar balances the acidity in the tomato sauce.
He sprinkled a pinch of cinnamon on top of his coffee.
She added a pinch of herbs for extra aroma in her soup.
03

the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)

04

a quick, sharp bite or snip, often resulting in a sudden, brief sensation of pain or discomfort

example
Example
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She felt a small pinch as she trimmed her nails too closely with the clippers.
He felt a sharp pinch as he accidentally caught his finger in the door hinge.
The crab gave a quick pinch with its claws when she tried to pick it up.
05

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

06

the painful result of getting a body part compressed or squeezed between two objects

example
Example
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The chef skillfully avoided a pinch while chopping vegetables.
The pinch on her toe came from accidentally stepping on a small object.
A protective parent quickly intervened to prevent a pinch on the baby 's cheek.
07

a painful or straitened circumstance

example
Example
The chef instructed the students to pinch the edges of the pastry to create a decorative pattern.
To wake up her sleepy friend, she decided to pinch him playfully on the arm.
He had to pinch the bridge of his nose to alleviate the growing headache.
When she saw the breathtaking view, she couldn't help but pinch herself to make sure it wasn't a dream.
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