pinch

US /pɪntʃ/
UK /pɪntʃ/
"pinch" picture
1.

a small amount of something, especially that which can be held between a finger and thumb

:
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Add a pinch of salt to the soup.
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He took a pinch of snuff.
:
dashhinttouchsmidgenspeck
2.

an act of squeezing something, especially someone's flesh, tightly between the finger and thumb

:
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She gave his arm a playful pinch.
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He felt a sharp pinch on his leg.
:
nipsqueezetweak
3.

a difficult situation or crisis

:
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When it comes to the pinch, he always helps out.
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The company is feeling the pinch due to rising costs.
:
crisisdifficultyhardshipdistressstraits
1.

grip (something, especially flesh) tightly and sharply between finger and thumb

:
•
She pinched his arm to get his attention.
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The new shoes pinch my toes.
:
nipsqueezetweakcompressconstrict
2.

steal (something, especially something of little value)

:
•
He was caught trying to pinch a candy bar.
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Someone pinched my wallet from my bag.
:
stealpilferswipeliftsnatch
3.

(of cold or hunger) affect (someone) with sharp pain or discomfort

:
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The cold pinched his fingers.
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Hunger began to pinch them.
:
afflictdistresstormentoppressgrieve
:
pinchedpinch pointpinch hitterpinch runnerpinch-hitfeel the pinch