"clench" in the noun sense
1. clinch, clench
a small slip noose made with seizing
2. clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold
the act of grasping
"he released his clasp on my arm"
"he has a strong grip for an old man"
"she kept a firm hold on the railing"
"clench" in the verb sense
1. clench, clinch
hold in a tight grasp
"clench a steering wheel"
2. clench
squeeze together tightly
"clench one's jaw"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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