clinch

English

Pronunciation

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• Rhymes: -ɪntʃ

Verb

clinch (third-person singular simple present clinches, present participle clinching, simple past and past participle clinched)

1. To clasp; to interlock. [1560s]
2. To make certain; to finalize. [1716]

   I already planned to buy the car, but the color was what really clinched it for me.

   • 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, BBC Sport:

     Vincent Kompany was sent off after conceding a penalty that was converted by Stephen Hunt to give Wolves hope. But Adam Johnson's curling shot in stoppage time clinched the points.

3. To fasten securely or permanently.
4. To bend and hammer the point of a nail so it cannot be removed. [17th century]
5. To embrace passionately.

Noun

clinch (plural clinches)

1. Any of several fastenings.
2. A passionate embrace.

See also

• Clinch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• clench
• clincher
• clinch nut