pinch

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer Date: 14th century 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

> II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a. a critical juncture ; emergency b. (1) pressure, stress (2) hardship, privation c. deficit 2. a. an act of pinching ; squeeze b. as much as may be taken between the finger and thumb <

a pinch of snuff

> c. a very small amount 3. a marked thinning of a vein or bed 4. a. theft b. a police raid; also arrest Synonyms: see juncture III. adjective Date: 1912 1. substitute <

pinch runner

> 2. hit by a pinch hitter <

a pinch homer

>