Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To fix or secure (a nail or bolt, for example) by bending down or flattening the pointed end that protrudes.
  • intransitive verb To fasten together in this way.
  • intransitive verb To settle definitely and conclusively; make final.
  • intransitive verb Sports To secure (a divisional championship, for instance) before the end of regular season play by having an insurmountable lead.
  • intransitive verb To fasten with a clinch knot.
  • intransitive verb To be held together securely.
  • intransitive verb Sports To hold a boxing opponent's body with one or both arms to prevent or hinder punches.
  • intransitive verb Slang To embrace amorously.
  • noun Something, such as a clamp, that clinches.
  • noun The clinched part of a nail, bolt, or rivet.
  • noun Sports An act or instance of clinching in boxing.
  • noun A clinch knot.
  • noun Slang An amorous embrace.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See clench.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast.
  • noun A pun.
  • noun (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.
  • intransitive verb To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one another.
  • transitive verb To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly.
  • transitive verb To set closely together; to close tightly.
  • transitive verb To bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven through an object), so that it will hold fast.
  • transitive verb To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To fasten securely or permanently.
  • verb To embrace passionately.
  • noun Any of several fastenings.
  • noun The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip or grasp.
  • noun obsolete A pun.
  • noun 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.
  • noun A passionate embrace.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts
  • noun a tight or amorous embrace
  • verb embrace amorously
  • noun a device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together
  • verb flatten the ends (of nails and rivets)
  • verb hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches
  • verb hold in a tight grasp
  • noun a small slip noose made with seizing
  • noun (boxing) the act of one boxer holding onto the other to avoid being hit and to rest momentarily
  • verb settle conclusively
  • noun the flattened part of a nail or bolt or rivet

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Variant of clench.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Arisen from clench in XVI century.

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Examples

  • My brother swears the improved clinch is the only way to go and a very good friend went to great lengths to test knot breaking strength and landed on the Trilene Knot.

    The Perfect Knot 2009

  • My brother swears the improved clinch is the only way to go and a very good friend went to great lengths to test knot breaking strength and landed on the Trilene Knot.

    The Perfect Knot 2009

  • The playoff clinch is a plus, but we definitely needed this home win before we went on this road trip.

    USATODAY.com 2008

  • The improved clinch is the way to go with large mouths

    On Pound-Test and Knots John Merwin 2008

  • Protag arrives at disco to find Antag and Sweethart in clinch, and leaves

    Persian decision making.... zornhau 2005

  • Tinner's tacks, which are used for clinching, are commonly called clinch-nails.

    Handwork in Wood William Noyes

  • Against Moon, Sanderson fell behind 1-0 at the start of the second period when he surrendered a point on a tie-up known as the clinch, rather than risk getting tossed for a three-point throw.

    USATODAY.com - With little fanfare, Sanderson celebrates golden accomplishment 2004

  • Muay Thai fighters also master the art of the clinch, which is a series of techniques to get in close to your opponent and hold him in such a way that he is susceptible to any number of devastating strikes.

    SurvivalBlog.com 2009

  • I do think Couture will be fine on his back and that his dirty boxing in the clinch will be a difference maker as well.

    Blog updates 2008

  • I do think Couture will be fine on his back and that his dirty boxing in the clinch will be a difference maker as well.

    Blog updates 2008

Comments

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  • 007 used this word with Wade when they were rescued in Cuba.

    June 9, 2012