vise

¹

Or vice

[vahys]

noun

1. any of various devices, usually having two jaws that may be brought together or separated by means of a screw, lever, or the like, used to hold an object firmly while work is being done on it.

verb (used with object)

vised, vising 

1. to hold, press, or squeeze with or as with a vise.

visé

²

[vee-zey, vee-zey]

noun

viséed, viséing 

1. visa.

vise

/ vaɪs /

noun

1. a variant spelling of vice 2

Other Word Forms

• viselike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vise¹

1300–50; Middle English vis < Old French: screw < Latin vītis vine (whose spiral form gave later sense)

Origin of vise²

< French, past participle of viser to inspect, check; visa

Example Sentences

An examination of the tightening vise in which Jews in the Netherlands—whether German-Jewish refugees like the Franks or longtime residents—found themselves is hampered, again, by storytelling problems.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Koufax created a vise between his middle finger and the knuckle on his ring finger.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It’s like having a big block of ice in a vise and you are just slowly cranking up the vise,” he said.

Read more on Seattle Times

Doctors caught in this vise are in effect being told that they must allow a pregnant woman’s condition to deteriorate until she is near death before they can act.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Our sanctions today continue to tighten the vise on willing third-country suppliers and networks providing Russia the inputs it desperately needs to ramp up and sustain its military-industrial base.”

Read more on Seattle Times