Pinch — Defs

01 v. t. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compr…

imp. & p. p. Pinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Pinching

1.
To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two hard bodies.
2.
to seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals.[Obs.]
“He [the hound] pinched and pulled her down.” — Chapman.
3.
To plait.[Obs.]
“Full seemly her wimple ipinched was.” — Chaucer.
4.
Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money.
“Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation.” — Sir W. Raleigh.
5.
To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. See Pinch, n., 4. See: Pinch
6.
To seize by way of theft; to steal; to lift.[Slang]
7.
to catch; to arrest (a criminal).

02 v. i. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches.

1.
To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches.
2.
To take hold; to grip, as a dog does.(Hunt.) [Obs.]
3.
To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous.
“The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare.” — Franklin.

Phrases & compounds

To pinch at — to find fault with; to take exception to.

03 n. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip.

1.
A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip.
2.
As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff.
3.
Pian; pang.
4.
A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also pinch bar. Also: pinch bar

Phrases & compounds

At a pinch — in an emergency; as, he could on a pinch read a little Latin.