CLENCH

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does clench mean? 

• CLENCH (noun)
  The noun CLENCH has 2 senses:

1. a small slip noose made with seizing
2. the act of grasping

  Familiarity information: CLENCH used as a noun is rare.

• CLENCH (verb)
  The verb CLENCH has 2 senses:

1. hold in a tight grasp
2. squeeze together tightly

  Familiarity information: CLENCH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLENCH (noun)

Meaning:

A small slip noose made with seizing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

clench; clinch

Hypernyms ("clench" is a kind of...):

noose; running noose; slip noose (a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot; it binds tighter as the cord or rope is pulled)

Domain category:

vessel; watercraft (a craft designed for water transportation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clench"):

double clinch (a clinch with two loops)

inside clinch (a clinch with the end of the line inside the loop)

outside clinch (a clinch with the end of the line outside the loop)

Meaning:

The act of grasping

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

hold; clutch; clutches; grip; clasp; clench; grasp

Context examples:

he released his clasp on my arm / he has a strong grip for an old man / she kept a firm hold on the railing

Hypernyms ("clench" is a kind of...):

grasping; prehension; seizing; taking hold (the act of gripping something firmly with the hands)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "clench"):

choke hold; chokehold (a restraining hold; someone loops the arm around the neck of another person in a tight grip, usually from behind)

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

wrestling hold (a hold used in the sport of wrestling)

• CLENCH (verb)

Meaning:

Hold in a tight grasp

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

clench; clinch

Context example:

clench a steering wheel

Hypernyms (to "clench" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Meaning:

Squeeze together tightly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

clench one's jaw

Hypernyms (to "clench" is one way to...):

squeeze (press firmly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "clench"):

grit (clench together)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something