1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, the teeth, claws, or with an instrument, _c.

2. To squeeze or compress between any two hard bodies.

3. To squeeze the flesh till it is pained or livid.

4. To gripe; to straiten; to oppress with want; as, to pinch a nation; to pinch the belly; to be pinched for want of food.

5. To pain by constriction; to distress; as pinching cold. The winter pinches.

6. To press; to straiten by difficulties; as,the argument pinches the objector.

The respondent is pinched with a strong objection.

7. To press hard; to try thoroughly.

, n. A close compression with the ends of the fingers.

1. A gripe; a pang.

2. Distress inflected or suffered; pressure; oppression; as necessity's sharp pinch.

3. Straits; difficulty; time of distress from want.