ALL meanings of pinched
pinch
P p - noun pinched the act of pinching; nip; squeeze. 1
- noun pinched as much of anything as can be taken up between the finger and thumb: a pinch of salt. 1
- noun pinched a very small quantity of anything: a pinch of pungent wit. 1
- noun pinched sharp or painful stress, as of hunger, need, or any trying circumstances: the pinch of conscience; to feel the pinch of poverty. 1
- noun pinched a situation or time of special stress, especially an emergency: A friend is someone who will stand by you in a pinch. 1
- noun pinched pinch bar. 1
- noun pinched Slang. a raid or an arrest. 1
- noun pinched Slang. a theft. 1
- noun pinched Digital Technology. an act or instance of pinching a touchscreen. 1
- idioms pinched pinch pennies, to stint on or be frugal or economical with expenditures; economize: I'll have to pinch pennies if I'm going to get through school. 1
- idioms pinched with a pinch of salt. salt1 (def 24). Also, with a grain of salt. 1
- adjective pinched gaunt, thin 1
- adjective pinched squeezed, trapped 1
- verb with object pinched to squeeze or compress between the finger and thumb, the teeth, the jaws of an instrument, or the like. 1
- verb with object pinched to constrict or squeeze painfully, as a tight shoe does. 1
- verb with object pinched to cramp within narrow bounds or quarters: The crowd pinched him into a corner. 1
- verb with object pinched to render (the face, body, etc.) unnaturally constricted or drawn, as pain or distress does: Years of hardship had pinched her countenance beyond recognition. 1
- verb with object pinched to affect with sharp discomfort or distress, as cold, hunger, or need does. 1
- verb with object pinched to straiten in means or circumstances: The depression pinched them. 1
- verb with object pinched to stint (a person, family, etc.) in allowance of money, food, or the like: They were severely pinched by the drought. 1
- verb with object pinched to hamper or inconvenience by the lack of something specified: The builders were pinched by the shortage of good lumber. 1
- verb with object pinched to stint the supply or amount of (a thing). 1
- verb with object pinched to put a pinch or small quantity of (a powder, spice, etc.) into something. 1
- verb with object pinched to roll or slide (a heavy object) with leverage from a pinch bar. 1
- verb with object pinched Slang. to steal. to arrest. 1
- verb with object pinched Digital Technology. to move two or more fingers toward or away from each other on (a touchscreen) in order to execute a command (often followed by in or out): Zoom in by pinching the screen. 1
- verb with object pinched Horticulture. to remove or shorten (buds or shoots) in order to produce a certain shape of the plant, improve the quality of the bloom or fruit, or increase the development of buds (often followed by out, off, or back). 1
- verb with object pinched Nautical. to sail (a ship) so close to the wind that the sails shake slightly and the speed is reduced. 1
- verb with object pinched Horse Racing, British. to press (a horse) to the point of exhaustion. 1
- verb without object pinched to exert a sharp or painful constricting force: This shoe pinches. 1
- verb without object pinched to cause sharp discomfort or distress: Their stomachs were pinched with hunger. 1
- verb without object pinched to economize unduly; stint oneself: They pinched and scraped for years to save money for a car. 1
- verb without object pinched Digital Technology. to move the fingers toward or away from each other on a touchscreen (often followed by in or out): Pinching in will zoom in, and pinching out will zoom out. 1
- verb without object pinched Mining. to diminish. to diminish to nothing (sometimes followed by out). 1
- verb without object pinched Nautical. to trim a sail too flat when sailing to windward. 1
- adjective pinched If someone's face is pinched, it looks thin and pale, usually because they are ill or old. 0
- adjective pinched (of someone's face) thin and pale, usually because of illness or old age 0
- adjective pinched deprived 0