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View synonyms for clamp

clamp

[ klamp ]

noun

  1. a device, usually of some rigid material, for strengthening or supporting objects or fastening them together.
  2. an appliance with opposite sides or parts that may be adjusted or brought closer together to hold or compress something.
  3. one of a pair of movable pieces, made of lead or other soft material, for covering the jaws of a vise and enabling it to grasp without bruising.
  4. Also called clamp rail. Carpentry. a rail having a groove or a number of mortises for receiving the ends of a number of boards to bind them into a flat piece, as a drawing board or door.
  5. Nautical.
    1. a horizontal timber in a wooden hull, secured to ribs to support deck beams and to provide longitudinal strength.


verb (used with object)

  1. to fasten with or fix in a clamp.

    Synonyms: secure, clench, clinch

verb phrase

  1. to impose or increase controls on.
  2. to become more strict:

    There were too many tax loopholes, so the government clamped down.

clamp

1

/ klæmp /

noun

  1. a mound formed out of a harvested root crop, covered with straw and earth to protect it from winter weather
  2. a pile of bricks ready for processing in a furnace
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. tr to enclose (a harvested root crop) in a mound
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clamp

2

/ klæmp /

noun

  1. a mechanical device with movable jaws with which an object can be secured to a bench or with which two objects may be secured together
  2. See also wheel clamp
  3. a means by which a fixed joint may be strengthened
  4. nautical a horizontal beam fastened to the ribs for supporting the deck beams in a wooden vessel
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to fix or fasten with or as if with a clamp
  2. to immobilize (a car) by means of a wheel clamp
  3. to inflict or impose forcefully

    they clamped a curfew on the town

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • un·clamped adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of clamp1

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Middle Dutch clampe clamp, cleat; cognate with Middle Low German klampe
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Word History and Origins

Origin of clamp1

C16: from Middle Dutch klamp heap; related to clump

Origin of clamp2

C14: from Dutch or Low German klamp; related to Old English clamm bond, fetter, Old Norse kleppr lump
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Example Sentences

The Innogear stand clamps directly onto your desk and stays wherever you put it thanks to spring tension.

Some lawmakers are upset by several recent actions social media companies have taken that clamp down on free speech, while others think the companies are doing far too little far too late.

From Fortune

People like to use this stand with a seated or standing desk, and it has front clamps to prevent your machine from slipping.

We appreciate the ergonomic top with an extended, 100-millimeter clamp zone that’s perfect for mounting a cycling computer, aero bars, handlebar bag, lights, and anything else we might need to bring along on our adventure outings.

Each arm can independently support up to 20 pounds, and they’re joined together by a single central desk clamp.

Researchers were aware that the DEA was going to fairly quickly clamp down on MDMA.

The carabiner is a D-shaped metal clamp that has a gate that opens and closes.

Cordice affixed a surgical clamp to the blade to accord a grip on it.

Maynard left the clamp in place and managed to pull out the blade.

Some are meant to be worn as you sleep, like this seemingly suffocating clip and this metallic clamp.

Sometimes they would clamp a crooked stick between a grooved piece of sandstone and a flat bone.

When the shellac is thoroughly dry, warm the stone again to melt the shellac, and clamp the pieces together.

Sometimes a dozen of them would clamp their peavies on either side, and by sheer brute force carry the stick to deep water.

When pulling on the tie pin the arms of the holder tend to draw together and clamp it on the pin.

In either case, do not let the edges of the splicing material meet, and it will clamp tightly on the whip.

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