Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense winches, present participle winching, past tense, past participle winched
1. countable noun
A winch is a machine which is used to lift heavy objects or people who need to be rescued. It consists of a drum around which a rope or chain is wound.
2. verb
If you winch an object or person somewhere, you lift or lower them using a winch.
He would attach a cable around the chassis of the car and winch it up on to the canalbank. [V n with adv/prep]
The crew members were winched to safety by helicopters. [V n with adv/prep]
winch in British English1
(wɪntʃ)
noun
1.
a windlass driven by a hand- or power-operated crank
2.
a hand- or power-operated crank by which a machine is driven
verb
3. (tr; often foll by up or in)
to pull (in a rope) or lift (a weight) using a winch
Derived forms
wincher (ˈwincher)
noun
Word origin
Old English wince pulley; related to wink1
winch in British English2
(wɪntʃ)
verb
(intransitive) an obsolete word for wince1
winch in American English
(wɪntʃ)
noun
1.
a crank with a handle for transmitting motion, as to a grindstone
2.
a machine for hoisting, lowering, or hauling, consisting of a drum or cylinder turned by a crank or motor: a rope or cable tied to the load is wound on the drum or cylinder
verb transitive
3.
to hoist or haul with a winch
Word origin
ME winche < OE wince < IE base *weng-, to be curved, bowed > wink
Examples of 'winch' in a sentence
winch
Fire crews finally winched the car to safety.
The Sun (2008)
The helicopter winched him up on a stretcher.
The Sun (2010)
One adult was winched ashore by helicopter and the other two were brought in by lifeboats.
The Sun (2014)
He was winched out by helicopter and flown to hospital.
The Sun (2013)
Finally a German military helicopter arrived and winched the three men to safety.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The car was winched back up but was a write-off.
The Sun (2008)
Three British warships training nearby joined the hunt and a rescue helicopter winched him on board.
The Sun (2008)
The helicopter arrived and winched us and Nino up to safety.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
TWO divers had to be winched aboard a helicopter and flown ashore suffering from the bends.
The Sun (2012)
The last of the crew were winched off early on Friday after the ship ran aground near Blackpool.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In a few hours, she was a total wreck, but all her crew were winched to safety by the coastguard.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He had plunged more than 200ft over a cliff and had to be winched up by helicopter before being flown to hospital in nearby Grenoble.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
winch
British English: winch NOUN
A winch is a machine which is used to lift heavy objects or people who need to be rescued. It consists of a drum around which a rope or chain is wound.
American English: winch
Brazilian Portuguese: guincho
Chinese: 绞车
European Spanish: torno
French: treuil
German: Winde
Italian: argano
Japanese: ウィンチ
Korean: 윈치
European Portuguese: guincho
Latin American Spanish: guinche
British English: winch VERB
If you winch an object or person somewhere, you lift or lower them using a winch.
He would attach a cable around the chassis of the car and winch it up on to the canal bank.