clamp

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈklæmp/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/klæmp/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(klamp)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
clamp /klæmp/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a device for fastening two things together:Adjust the clamp to hold this piece of wood while I drill a hole here.

v. 
  1. to fasten with a clamp or as if in a clamp:[~ + object]He clamped the glued pieces together for a stronger bond. I clamped my mouth shut and said no more.
  2. clamp down, [~ + down (+ on + object)] to impose stricter control:to clamp down on crime.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
clamp  (klamp),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a device, usually of some rigid material, for strengthening or supporting objects or fastening them together.
  2. an appliance with opposite sides or parts that may be adjusted or brought closer together to hold or compress something.
  3. one of a pair of movable pieces, made of lead or other soft material, for covering the jaws of a vise and enabling it to grasp without bruising.
  4. Also called clamp′ rail′. [Carpentry.]a rail having a groove or a number of mortises for receiving the ends of a number of boards to bind them into a flat piece, as a drawing board or door.
  5. [Naut.]
    • a horizontal timber in a wooden hull, secured to ribs to support deck beams and to provide longitudinal strength.
    • See mast clamp. 

v.t. 
  1. to fasten with or fix in a clamp.
  2. clamp down, to become more strict:There were too many tax loopholes, so the government clamped down.
  3. clamp down on, to impose or increase controls on.
  • Middle Dutch clampe clamp, cleat; cognate with Middle Low German klampe
  • Middle English (noun, nominal) 1350–1400
    6. clinch, clench, secure.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
clamp /klæmp/ n
  1. a mechanical device with movable jaws with which an object can be secured to a bench or with which two objects may be secured together
  2. See also wheel clamp
 vb (transitive)
  1. to fix or fasten with or as if with a clamp
  2. to immobilize (a car) by means of a wheel clamp
  3. to inflict or impose forcefully: they clamped a curfew on the town
Etymology: 14th Century: from Dutch or Low German klamp; related to Old English clamm bond, fetter, Old Norse kleppr lump
clamp /klæmp/ Brit n
  1. a mound formed out of a harvested root crop, covered with straw and earth to protect it from winter weather
  2. a pile of bricks ready for processing in a furnace
 vb
  1. (transitive) to enclose (a harvested root crop) in a mound
Etymology: 16th Century: from Middle Dutch klamp heap; related to clump
'clamp' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
clam - clamp down - clench - clump - cramp - Denver boot - holdfast - press - saw set - stirrup - wheel clamp - alligator clip - bar clamp - bite - brace - bulldog clip - cantling - C-clamp - clampdown - clamper - collet - crutch - driving dog - fasten - hand screw - holddown - long arm - mast clamp - mast hasp - paper clip - pinchcock - tornillo - unclamp - screw - steel trap
Collocations: a [table, masonry, carpenter's, carpentry, wood] clamp, [fixed, attached] the clamp to the [surface, workbench], held [together, in place, in position, tight] with a clamp, more...

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