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   clinch

   /klin(t)SH/

   verb

   • 1. confirm or settle (a contract or bargain): "to clinch a business deal" Similar securesettleconcludeclosepull offbring offcompleteconfirmsealset the seal onfinalizeshake hands onreach an agreement ontransactinformal:sew upwrap upstringbutton up
   • ▪ conclusively settle (an argument or debate): "these findings clinched the matter" Similar settledecidedetermineestablishresolveinformal:sort out
   • ▪ confirm the winning or achievement of (a game, competition, or victory): "his team clinched the title" Similar winbe the victor inbe the winner ofbe victorious income first infinish first intake first prize intriumph inachieve success inbe successful inprevail inOpposite lose
   • 2. grapple at close quarters, especially (of boxers) so as to be too closely engaged for full-arm blows. Similar grapplewrestlestruggle with each otherscuffle with each othergrasp each otherclutch each othergrip each other
   • ▪ (of two people) embrace.
   • 3. secure (a nail or rivet) by driving the point sideways when it has penetrated. Similar securefastenmake fastfixclampboltrivetpinion
   • ▪ fasten (a rope or fishing line) with a clinch knot.

   noun

   • 1. a struggle or scuffle at close quarters, especially (in boxing) one in which the fighters become too closely engaged for full-arm blows: "breaking from a clinch, he crossed with his right"
   • ▪ an embrace, especially an amorous one: "we went into a passionate clinch on the sofa"
   • 2. a knot used to fasten a rope to a ring or cringle, using a half hitch with the end seized back on its own part.

   Word Origin late 16th century (in the senses ‘something that grips’ and ‘fix securely’): variant of clench.

   Scrabble Points: 13

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