pinch

1. (noun) The action of squeezing a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt. 2. (noun) A close compression of anything with the fingers. 3. (noun) A small amount of powder or granules, such that the amount could be held between fingertip and thumb tip. 4. (noun) An awkward situation of some kind (especially money or social) which is difficult to escape. 5. (noun) A metal bar used as a lever for lifting weights, rolling wheels, etc. 6. (noun) An organic herbal smoke additive. 7. (noun) A magnetic compression of an electrically-conducting filament. 8. (noun) The narrow part connecting the two bulbs of an hourglass. 9. (noun) An arrest. 10. (verb) To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt. 11. (verb) To squeeze between the thumb and forefinger. 12. (verb) To squeeze between two objects. 13. (verb) To steal, usually something inconsequential. 14. (verb) To arrest or capture. 15. (verb) To cut shoots or buds of a plant in order to shape the plant, or to improve its yield. 16. (verb) To sail so close-hauled that the sails begin to flutter. 17. (verb) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. 18. (verb) To be stingy or covetous; to live sparingly. 19. (verb) To seize; to grip; to bite; said of animals. 20. (verb) To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve. 21. (verb) To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. 22. (verb) To complain or find fault.