1
: a device designed to bind or constrict or to press two or more parts together so as to hold them firmly
2
: any of various instruments or appliances having parts brought together for holding or compressing something
clamped; clamping; clamps
1
: to fasten with or as if with a clamp
clamp two boards together
2
a
: to place by decree : impose
—often used with on
clamped on a curfew after the riots
b
: to hold tightly
Synonyms
Examples of clamp in a Sentence
Verb
The surgeon clamped the vein.
He clamped the two pieces of wood together.
The bit was clamped firmly between the horse's teeth.
He clamped his mouth shut and refused to speak.
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024
On the forward-facing side of the Snappy's clamp is an LED ring light.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2024
Tony Hoffman, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024
It’s got nothing to do with the weight and everything to do with the soft cushioning and low clamping force on the headband.
—Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clamp 
Noun
The starfish were then suspended by these clamps above a glass bowl of seawater.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024
On the forward-facing side of the Snappy's clamp is an LED ring light.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2024
Verb
This 27-inch 4K monitor owes its flexibility to its hinged, ergo-arm stand, which clamps onto the back or side of a desk and features generous height and tilt adjustment, the ability to pivot from landscape to portrait orientation, and 275 degrees of swivel motion.
—Tony Hoffman, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024
It’s got nothing to do with the weight and everything to do with the soft cushioning and low clamping force on the headband.
—Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clamp
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clamp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clamp
Cite this Entry
“Clamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamp. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clamp
1 of 2 noun
: a device that holds or presses parts together firmly
clamp
2 of 2 verb
: to fasten or tighten with or as if with a clamp
Medical Definition
clamp
1 of 2 noun
: any of various instruments or appliances having parts brought together for holding or compressing something
especially
: an instrument used to hold, compress, or crush vessels and hollow organs and to aid in surgical excision of parts
an arterial clamp
clamp
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to fasten with or as if with a clamp
the descending thoracic aorta was clamped—W. A. Banks et al.
W. A. Banks et al.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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