clamp

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

clamp, n. [Cf. LG. & D. klamp, Dan. klampe, also D. klampen to fasten, clasp. Cf. Clamber, Cramp.].

•  Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material, to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising.  [1913 Webster]
•  A thick plank on the inner part of a ship's side, used to sustain the ends of beams.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal for coking.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mollusk. See Clam.  [1913 Webster]

Clamp nails, nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.

clamp, v. t. 

•  To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cover, as vegetables, with earth.  [1913 Webster]

clamp, n. [Prob. an imitative word. Cf. Clank.].

 A heavy footstep; a tramp.  [1913 Webster]

clamp, v. i. 

 To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump.  [1913 Webster]
"The policeman with clamping feet."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

clamp, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device, esp. a brace or band of iron etc., for strengthening other materials or holding things together.
2 a device for immobilizing an illegally parked car.
--v.tr.
1 strengthen or fasten with a clamp.
2 place or hold firmly.
3 immobilize (an illegally parked car) by fixing a clamp to one of its wheels.

Idiom

clamp down
1 (often foll. by on) be rigid in enforcing a rule etc.
2 (foll. by on) try to suppress. clamp-down n. severe restriction or suppression.

clamp, n.
1 a heap of potatoes or other root vegetables stored under straw or earth.
2 a pile of bricks for burning.
3 a pile of turf or peat or garden rubbish etc.

Etymology

16th c.: prob. f. Du. klamp heap (in sense 2 related to CLUMP)

THESAURUS

clamp

affix, alum, anchor, annex, astringent, attach, bear hug, belay, bite, brace, bracket, cement, cinch, clasp, clench, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, clutch, compress, compressor, constrictor, contractor, cramp, crush, death grip, embrace, engraft, ensphere, fasten, fastener, firm hold, fix, foothold, footing, graft, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, hold, hug, iron grip, knit, make fast, moor, nip, pincer, pinch, press, purchase, put to, screw up, secure, seizure, set, set to, squeeze, styptic, styptic pencil, tenure, tight grip, tighten, toehold, trice up, trim, tweak, vice, vise, wad up

ROGET THESAURUS

clamp

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.