pinch

Where “pinch” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt.
2. 2
   To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger.
3. 3
   To squeeze between two objects.
4. 4
   Of clothing, to be uncomfortably tight in specific spots.
5. 5
   To steal, usually something inconsequential.
6. 6
   To arrest or capture.
7. 7
   To cut shoots or buds of a plant in order to shape the plant, or to improve its yield.
8. 8
   To sail so close-hauled that the sails begin to flutter.
9. 9
   To take hold; to grip, as a dog does.
10. 10
    To be stingy or covetous; to live sparingly.
11. 11
    To seize; to grip; to bite.
12. 12
    To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve.
13. 13
    To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch.
14. 14
    To complain or find fault.

Etymology

From Middle English pinchen, from Old Northern French *pinchier (compare Old French pincier, pincer (“to pinch”)), a word of uncertain origin, possibly from Vulgar Latin *pinciāre (“to puncture, pinch”), from a merger of *punctiāre (“to puncture, sting”), from Latin punctiō (“a puncture, prick”) and *piccāre (“to strike, sting”), from Frankish *pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick”). More at point, pick and pitch.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ipnch,picnh,pincch,pinchh,pinhc,pinnch,pnich,ppinch

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pinch - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Frequently Asked Questions