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wrench

[ rench ]
/ rɛntʃ /
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See synonyms for: wrench / wrenched / wrenching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside: He wrenched away.
to give a wrench or twist at something.
noun
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of wrench

before 1050; Middle English wrenchen (v.), Old English wrencan to twist, turn; cognate with German renken

OTHER WORDS FROM wrench

wrencher, nounwrench·ing·ly, adverboutwrench, verb (used with object)un·wrenched, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wrench

ranch, wrench
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wrench in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wrench

wrench
/ (rɛntʃ) /

verb
noun

Word Origin for wrench

Old English wrencan; related to Old High German renken, Lithuanian rangyti to twist. See wrinkle 1
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with wrench

wrench

see throw a monkey wrench.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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