1. (

• pinch ,

) a painful or straitened circumstance; "the pinch of the recession" ;

2. (

• pinch

) an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed ;

3. (

• touch ,
• hint ,
• tinge ,
• mite ,
• pinch ,
• jot ,
• speck ,
• soupcon

) a slight but appreciable amount; "this dish could use a touch of garlic" ;

4. (

• emergency ,
• exigency ,
• pinch ,

) a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action; "he never knew what to do in an emergency" ;

5. (

• nip ,
• pinch ,

) a small sharp bite or snip ;

6. (

• pinch ,
• tweak

) a squeeze with the fingers ;

7. (

• apprehension ,
• arrest ,
• catch ,
• collar ,
• pinch ,
• taking_into_custody

) the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar" ;

1. (

• pinch ,
• squeeze ,
• twinge ,
• tweet ,
• nip ,
• twitch

) squeeze tightly between the fingers; "He pinched her behind"; "She squeezed the bottle" ;

2. (

• crimp ,
• pinch ,

) make ridges into by pinching together ;

3. (

• pilfer ,
• cabbage ,
• purloin ,
• pinch ,
• abstract ,
• snarf ,
• swipe ,
• hook ,
• sneak ,
• filch ,
• nobble ,
• lift

) make off with belongings of others ;

4. (

• top ,
• pinch ,

) cut the top off; "top trees and bushes" ;

5. (

• pinch ,
• vellicate

) irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear; "smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth"; "the pain is as if sharp points pinch your back" ;