Background for pinches

pinches

/ˈpɪntʃɪz/

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noun

The action of squeezing a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

Examples :

"The toddler's playful pinches on his mother's cheek made her giggle. "

body sensation action

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noun

A close compression of anything with the fingers.

Examples :

"I gave the leather of the sofa a pinch, gauging the texture."

body sensation action

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noun

A small amount of powder or granules, such that the amount could be held between fingertip and thumb tip.

Examples :

"She added two pinches of salt to the soup for extra flavor. "

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noun

An awkward situation of some kind (especially money or social) which is difficult to escape.

Examples :

"After losing his job, the family finances were in deep pinches, and they had to sell their car. "

situation condition finance society

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noun

A metal bar used as a lever for lifting weights, rolling wheels, etc.

Examples :

"The mechanic used two pinches to carefully lift the heavy engine block. "

technical machine utensil

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noun

An organic herbal smoke additive.

Examples :

"My friend adds pinches of lavender and chamomile to his herbal smoking blends for a more relaxing effect. "

plant substance

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noun

A magnetic compression of an electrically-conducting filament.

Examples :

"The technician carefully adjusted the filament's pinches to optimize the circuit's performance. "

physics energy technology

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noun

The narrow part connecting the two bulbs of an hourglass.

Examples :

"The sand flows slowly through the pinches of the hourglass. "

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noun

Examples :

"The police made several pinches after the bank robbery. "

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verb

To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.

Examples :

"The children were scolded for pinching each other."

body action sensation

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verb

To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger.

Examples :

"The baby playfully pinches his mother's cheek. "

body action sensation

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verb

To squeeze between two objects.

Examples :

"The clothespin pinches the clothes to the laundry line. "

body action sensation

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verb

To steal, usually something inconsequential.

Examples :

"Someone has pinched my handkerchief!"

property action business economy finance

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verb

To arrest or capture.

Examples :

"The police often pinches shoplifters who try to steal from stores. "

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verb

To cut shoots or buds of a plant in order to shape the plant, or to improve its yield.

Examples :

"The gardener pinches off the tomato plant's suckers to encourage bigger tomatoes. "

agriculture plant biology

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verb

To sail so close-hauled that the sails begin to flutter.

Examples :

""The inexperienced sailor pinches too much when trying to sail upwind, causing the sails to flutter and lose power." "

nautical sailing

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verb

To take hold; to grip, as a dog does.

Examples :

"The playful puppy pinches my shoelaces with his teeth and tugs. "

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verb

To be stingy or covetous; to live sparingly.

Examples :

"My grandfather pinches pennies whenever he can, saving every small coin. "

economy business finance value character

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verb

To seize; to grip; to bite; said of animals.

Examples :

"The crab pinches with its claws if you get too close. "

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verb

To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve.

Examples :

"to be pinched for money"

physiology body condition

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verb

To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch.

Examples :

"The workers pinches the railcar forward inch by inch, using long metal bars to lever the wheels. "

technical vehicle action machine industry

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verb

To complain or find fault.

Examples :

"My brother always pinches about the food Mom makes, even though he eats it all. "

attitude character action language communication