- OE. clenchen, prop. causative of clink to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D. klinken to tinkle, rivet. See Clink
- To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly.Clinchthe pointed spear.
- To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth or the first.
- To bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven through an object), so that it will hold fast; as, to clinch a nail.
- To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish; as, to clinch an argument.
