pinch

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pinch[1,verb] pinch[2,noun] pinch[3,adjective] pinch bar pinch-hit pinch hit pinch hitter

Main Entry: ¹pinch
Pronunciation: 'pinch
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer
transitive verb
1 a : to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument b : to prune the tip of (a plant or shoot) usually to induce branching c : to squeeze or compress painfully d : to cause physical or mental pain to e (1) : to cause to appear thin, haggard, or shrunken (2) : to cause to shrivel or wither
2 a : to subject to strict economy or want : STRAITEN b : to restrain or limit narrowly : CONSTRICT
3 a : STEAL b : ARREST
4 : to sail too close to the wind
intransitive verb
1 : COMPRESS, SQUEEZE
2 : to be miserly or closefisted
3 : to press painfully
4 : NARROW, TAPER <the road pinched down to a trail -- Cecelia Holland>
- pinch pennies : to practice strict economy