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pinch

verb · noun

Simple meaning

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

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

pinch
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈpɪntʃ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

verb

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

  2. Squeeze tightly between the fingers

  3. To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger.

  4. To squeeze between two objects.

  5. intransitive

    Of clothing, to be uncomfortably tight in specific spots.

  6. of animals

    To seize; to grip; to bite.

noun

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

  2. A squeeze with the fingers

  3. A close compression of anything with the fingers.

  4. A slight but appreciable amount

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

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

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Moderately Common
Typical Use
Neutral / general English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

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

Used this way, pinch is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Slightly negative
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Mild
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Serious and weighty
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use pinch

  • “He pinched her behind.”verb

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

pinch hittertom pinchpinch saltsugar pinch

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • pinch barnounCompound term

    A lever with a pointed projection that serves as a fulcrum.

  • pinch hitternounCompound term

    A substitute for the regular batter.

  • penny-pinchverbCompound term

    Spend money frugally.

  • penny-pinchingnounCompound term

    Extreme care in spending money.

  • penny pinchernounCompound term

    Someone who is excessively careful with money (who pinches every penny before letting go of it).

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.