pinch

n 1: a painful or straitened circumstance: "the pinch of the

recession"

2: an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed

3: a small but appreciable amount; "this dish could use a touch

of garlic" [syn: {touch}, {hint}, {mite}, {jot}, {speck},

{soupcon}]

4: a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that

requires immediate action; "he never knew what to do in an

emergency" [syn: {emergency}, {exigency}]

5: small sharp biting [syn: {nip}]

6: a squeeze with the fingers [syn: {tweak}]

7: the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a

criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the

collar" [syn: {apprehension}, {arrest}, {catch}, {collar},

{taking into custody}]

v 1: squeeze tightly between the fingers; "He pinched her

behind"; "She squeezed the bottle" [syn: {vellicate}, {squeeze},

{twinge}, {tweet}, {nip}, {twitch}]

2: make ridges into by pinching together [syn: {crimp}]

3: make off with belongings of others [syn: {pilfer}, {cabbage},

{purloin}, {abstract}, {snarf}, {swipe}, {hook}, {sneak},

{filch}, {nobble}, {lift}]

4: cut the top off; "top trees and bushes" [syn: {top}]