to settle (a matter) decisively: After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.
to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point: He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.
to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.
Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.
verb (used without object)
Boxing. to engage in a clinch: The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.
Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.
(of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.
noun
the act of clinching.
Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.
Slang. a passionate embrace.
a clinched nail or fastening.
the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.
a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.
Archaic. a pun.
Also clench(for defs. 1-4, 9, 11, 12).
Origin of clinch
First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench
SYNONYMS FOR clinch
1 cinch, secure, close, conclude, confirm.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR clinch ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM clinch
clinch·ing·ly,adverb
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH clinch
clench, clinch
Words nearby clinch
climb on the bandwagon, climb the walls, clime, clin., clinandrium, clinch, clincher, clincher-built, clincher tire, clindamycin, cline