clinch

American  

[klinch] / klɪntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to settle (a matter) decisively.

   After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.

   Synonyms:

   confirm, conclude, close, secure, cinch

2. to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point.

   He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.

3. to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.

4. Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.

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verb (used without object)

1. Boxing. to engage in a clinch.

   The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.

2. Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.

3. (of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.

noun

1. the act of clinching.

2. Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.

3. Slang. a passionate embrace.

4. a clinched nail or fastening.

5. the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.

6. a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.

7. Archaic. a pun.

clinch British  

/ klɪntʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over

2. (tr) to hold together in such a manner

   to clinch the corners of the frame

3. (tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way

4. (tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch

5. (intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling

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noun

1. the act of clinching

2. 1. a nail with its point bent over

   2. the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over

3. boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc

4. slang a lovers' embrace

5. nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.

Other Word Forms

• clinchingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of clinch

First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench

Example Sentences

Ireland could still claim the Triple Crown, which they won last year, with Dan Sheehan's try clinching the bonus point early in the second half.

From BBC

Klaebo's victory in the men's 50km mass start event saw him clinch his 11th Winter Olympics gold medal, extending the record he set earlier in these Games.

From Barron's

Read: Amazon’s stock just clinched its worst losing streak in nearly 20 years.

From MarketWatch

As it turned out, even a top-13 finish would have clinched the gold.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under gargantuan pressure, she clinched the sole Olympic women’s figure skating berth allotted to Russia to compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assure
• cap
• conclude
• decide
• seal