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| clench [ klench ] |
verb (past and past participle clenched, present participle clench·ing, 3rd person present singular clench·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb hold teeth or fist tightly together: to close your teeth or fist tightly, e.g. when angry
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2. transitive verb clutch something: to hold or grip something tightly
  He clenched the rope in his teeth.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb contract: to contract, or cause a muscle to contract, suddenly, often as a result of sudden tension or emotion
His jaw clenched as he waited.
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4. transitive verb nautical
Another spelling of clinchv (sense 4)
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noun (plural clench·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. tight hold: a tight hold or grip
She held the steering wheel in a tight clench.
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2. device that grips tightly: a mechanical device that holds or grips something firmly
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| [ Old English beclencan< Germanic, "to stick"] |
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| clenched adjective |
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