English Explanatory Dictionary

clench

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To grip or hold fast.
  2. To close tightly.
  3. Alternative form of clinch (“bend and hammer a nail”).
  4. Dated form of clinch (“make certain, finalize”).
noun
  1. A tight grip.
  2. Alternative form of clinch (“the act of bending and hammering the point of a nail so it cannot be removed”).
  3. A seal that is applied to formed thin-wall bushings.
  4. A local chapter of the Church of the SubGenius parody religion.
  5. A pun.

Pronunciation

/klɛnt͡ʃ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-clench.wav

Word forms

clench clenches clenching clenched

Etymology

From Middle English clenchen, from Old English clenċan (“to clinch; hold fast”), a variant of Old English clenġan (“to adhere; remain”), from Proto-Germanic *klangijaną, causative of *klinganą (“to stick; adhere”). Related to cling.

Synonyms

clasp clutch grip clinch

Antonyms

unclench

Derived words

buttock-clenching clenchable clench-built clencher clench one's fists clenchpoop clencht clinch reclench

Translations

Afrikaans: klou Bulgarian: стискам Bulgarian: свивам Catalan: estrènyer Catalan: serrar Chinese Mandarin: 咬緊 /咬紧 Chinese Mandarin: 攥緊 /攥紧 Chinese Mandarin: 握緊 /握紧 Ngazidja Comorian: ufunya Czech: sevřít Dutch: vastknijpen Dutch: ballen (vuist) Dutch: samenballen Esperanto: premi Finnish: puristaa French: serrer Friulian: strenzi Friulian: strengi German: ballen (Fäuste) German: zusammenpressen Japanese: 堅く締める Japanese: 握り締める Japanese: 固める Māori: kakati Māori: kumu Māori: puku Māori: tetē Māori: nenē Māori: kuku Marathi: आवळणे Norwegian Bokmål: knyte Norwegian Bokmål: knytte Russian: сжима́ть Russian: сжать Russian: сти́скивать Russian: сти́снуть Spanish: cerrar (el puño) Spanish: apretarse Spanish: cerrarse Swedish: knyta
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