noun
pincers
PIHN-suhrz
Pincers (noun) means a hand tool with two pivoted, blunt jaws used for gripping or pulling. Example: “He used pincers to pull the stubborn nail from the board.”
noun
1
A hand tool with two pivoted, blunt jaws used for gripping or pulling.
"Milk formed their chief diet, and this they were supposed to imbibe from the witch herself, from a third "teat" which had been made beneath the arm by a nip from the Devil's pincers."
— Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art (1936)
"He used pincers to pull the stubborn nail from the board."
2
The front claws of crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters.
"The lobster waved its pincers menacingly at the tank glass."
How to use pincers
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gripping tool, or a crustacean's claws.
Common pairings
a pair of pincers
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He used _____ to pull the stubborn nail from the board.
Etymology
From Old French pinceure, from pincier, "to pinch."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “pincers” mean?
The word “pincers” means a hand tool with two pivoted, blunt jaws used for gripping or pulling. In plain terms, a gripping tool, or a crustacean's claws.
How do you pronounce “pincers”?
“Pincers” is pronounced PIHN-suhrz (/ˈpɪnsəɹz/ in IPA).
How do you use “pincers” in a sentence?
Here is “pincers” used in a sentence: “He used pincers to pull the stubborn nail from the board.”
What is another word for “pincers”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pincers” include forceps, chelae, claws, nippers, pair of pincers and pinchers.
What part of speech is “pincers”?
“Pincers” is a noun.
Where does the word “pincers” come from?
The word “pincers” comes from Old French. From Old French pinceure, from pincier, "to pinch.".
How many meanings does “pincers” have?
“Pincers” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand tool with two pivoted, blunt jaws used for gripping or pulling.
