pinch


Definition: Meaning of, pinch in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / pɪn(t)ʃ /

  • verb
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
pinch pinched pinched
Present Participle Third Person Singular
pinching pinches
  1. [transitive] to press a part of someone's skin very tightly between your finger and thumb, especially so that it hurts
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  2. [transitive] British English informal to steal something, especially something small or not very valuable
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  3. [transitive] to press something between your finger and thumb
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  4. [intransitive and transitive] if something you are wearing pinches you, it presses painfully on part of your body, because it is too tight
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  5. somebody has to pinch themselves used when a situation is so surprising that the person involved needs to make sure that they are not imagining it
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  6. [transitive usually passive] British English old-fashioned to ARREST someone
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
synonym
antonym
  • noun
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Singular Plural
pinch pinches
[countable]
  1. pinch of salt/pepper etc a small amount of salt, pepper etc that you can hold between your finger and thumb
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  2. when you press someone's skin between your finger and thumb
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  3. at a pinch British English American English used to say that you could do something if necessary in a difficult or urgent situation
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  4. take something with a pinch of salt used to say that you should not always completely believe what a particular person says
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
  5. feel the pinch to have financial difficulties, especially because you are not making as much money as you used to make
    SYNONYM
    Not found!
    ANTONYM
    Not found!
synonym
antonym

pinch used in phrases

  • penny-pinch (verb)
    1. spend money frugally; spend as little as possible
  • pinch bar (noun)
    1. a lever with a pointed projection that serves as a fulcrum; used to roll heavy wheels
  • pinch hitter (noun)
    1. baseball a substitute for the regular batter
  • pinch-hit (verb)
    1. to do something for someone else because they are suddenly not able to do it
    2. to HIT for someone else in baseball
  • More