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Webster 1913 Edition

Clinch

Clinch

(klĭnch; 224)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clinched
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Clinching
.]
[OE.
clenchen
, prop. causative of
clink
to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D.
klinken
to tinkle, rivet. See
Clink
.]
1.
To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly.
“Clinch the pointed spear.”
Dryden.
2.
To set closely together; to close tightly;
as, to
clinch
the teeth or the first
.
Swift.
3.
To bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven through an object), so that it will hold fast;
as, to
clinch
a nail
.
4.
To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish;
as, to
clinch
an argument
.
South.

Clinch

,
Verb.
I.
To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one another.

Clinch

(klĭnch)
,
Noun.
1.
The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast;
as, to get a good
clinch
of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure anything by a
clinch
.
2.
A pun.
Pope.
3.
(Naut.)
A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an anchor, or the breeching of a ship’s gun to the ringbolts.

Webster 1828 Edition

Clinch

CLINCH

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To gripe with the hand; to make fast by bending over, folding, or embracing closely. Thus, to clinch a nail, is to bend the point and drive it closely. To clinch the hand or fist, is to contract the fingers closely into the palm of the hand. To clinch an instrument, is to close the fingers and thumb round it, and hold it fast.
2.
To fix or fasten; to make firm; as, to clinch an argument.

CLINCH

, n.
1.
A word used in a double meaning; a pun; an ambiguity; a duplicity of meaning, with identity of expression.
Here one poor word a hundred clinches makes.
2.
A witty, ingenious reply.
3.
In seamens language, the part of a cable which is fastened to the ring of an anchor; a kind of knot and seizings, used to fasten a cable to the ring of an anchor, and the britching of a gun to the ring bolts in a ships side.

Definition 2024

clinch

clinch

English

Verb

clinch ‎(third-person singular simple present clinches, present participle clinching, simple past and past participle clinched)

  1. To clasp; to interlock. [1560s]
  2. To make certain; to finalize. [1716]
    I already planned to buy the car, but the color was what really clinched it for me.
    • 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport:
      Vincent Kompany was sent off after conceding a penalty that was converted by Stephen Hunt to give Wolves hope. But Adam Johnson's curling shot in stoppage time clinched the points.
  3. To fasten securely or permanently.
  4. To bend and hammer the point of (a nail) so it cannot be removed. [17th century]
  5. To embrace passionately.
  6. To hold firmly; to clench.
    • Dryden
      Clinch the pointed spear.
  7. To set closely together; to close tightly.
    to clinch the teeth or the fist
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Jonathan Swift to this entry?)

Translations

Noun

clinch ‎(plural clinches)

  1. Any of several fastenings.
  2. The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip or grasp.
    to get a good clinch of an antagonist, or of a weapon
    to secure anything by a clinch
  3. (obsolete) A pun.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Alexander Pope to this entry?)
  4. (nautical) A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an anchor, or the breeching of a ship's gun to the ringbolts.
  5. A passionate embrace.
  6. In combat sports the act of one or both fighters holding onto the other to prevent being hit or engange in standup grappling.

Translations

See also

Etymology

Arisen from clench in 16th century.

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɪntʃ

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