clamp

To press or hold something very tightly.

• She clamped her lips shut.
• His fingers clamped around my wrist.
• The dog clamped its teeth onto the rope.

How to use it: clamp a hand over something (He clamped a hand over his mouth.); clamp onto something (The child clamped onto her father's arm.)

Similar words: grip, grasp

Opposites: release

Common phrases: clamp onto something, clamp something shut

To hold things firmly in place with a tool that presses them together.

• Clamp the two pieces together.
• He clamped the wood before cutting it.
• Can you clamp this board to the table?

How to use it: clamp something to something (Clamp the board to the workbench.)

Similar words: fasten, secure

Opposites: release

Common phrases: clamp something together, clamp something down

To put a metal lock around a vehicle's wheel so it cannot move.

• They clamped my car.
• Cars parked here may be clamped.
• The officer clamped a van outside the station.

Similar words: boot

Common phrases: clamp a car, clamp a vehicle

A tool or device that presses parts tightly together to hold them in place.

• Use a clamp to hold the parts together.
• He tightened the clamp around the pipe.
• Remove the clamps once the glue is dry.

Similar words: fastener

Common phrases: metal clamp, pipe clamp, tighten a clamp

A medical tool that presses a blood vessel closed to stop blood flowing during an operation.

• The surgeon applied a clamp.
• Two clamps stopped the bleeding during the operation.
• She removed the clamp from the blood vessel.

Common phrases: surgical clamp, artery clamp