pincer
noun
pin·cer ˈpin(t)-sər 
especially for sense 1 US often ˈpin-chər
1
a
pincers plural : an instrument having two short handles and two grasping jaws working on a pivot and used for gripping things
b
: a claw (as of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers : chela
2
: pincer movement
pincerlike
ˈpin(t)-sər-ˌlīk
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Forming a pincer around the capital, Russian troops planned to seize Kyiv in three to four days. 
Liz Sly, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 The core action of CLAW is mimicked by the interface, with a sliding pincer as the central component. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Aug. 2022 The fearsome-looking bugs—with two-inch long bodies, quarter-inch stingers, and big heads dominated by huge round eyes and giant pincer-like mandibles—dwarf the honeybees in the display case next to them. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2022 But that returns us to Rottenborn’s list of all the pincer movements that close in on abuse victims. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 2 June 2022 Nearby, Russian forces were trying to push southward, part of a pincer move to trap the Ukrainian troops still holding a pocket of territory in the two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. New York Times, 1 June 2022 This led to a pincer attack on their profit margins. Omer Riaz, Forbes, 26 May 2022 This may allow Russia to form a pincer in conjunction with a thrust pressing southward towards Lyman that could leave the veteran Ukrainian brigades in Severodonetsk encircled. Sebastien Roblin, Forbes, 22 May 2022 The assault from prices will be two-pronged, almost pincer-like. Rajrishi Singhal, Quartz, 26 Jan. 2022 See More
Liz Sly, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 The core action of CLAW is mimicked by the interface, with a sliding pincer as the central component. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Aug. 2022 The fearsome-looking bugs—with two-inch long bodies, quarter-inch stingers, and big heads dominated by huge round eyes and giant pincer-like mandibles—dwarf the honeybees in the display case next to them. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 July 2022 But that returns us to Rottenborn’s list of all the pincer movements that close in on abuse victims. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 2 June 2022 Nearby, Russian forces were trying to push southward, part of a pincer move to trap the Ukrainian troops still holding a pocket of territory in the two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. New York Times, 1 June 2022 This led to a pincer attack on their profit margins. Omer Riaz, Forbes, 26 May 2022 This may allow Russia to form a pincer in conjunction with a thrust pressing southward towards Lyman that could leave the veteran Ukrainian brigades in Severodonetsk encircled. Sebastien Roblin, Forbes, 22 May 2022 The assault from prices will be two-pronged, almost pincer-like. Rajrishi Singhal, Quartz, 26 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English pinceour, from Anglo-French *pinceour, pinchure, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer to pinch, from Vulgar Latin *pinctiare, *punctiare, from Latin punctum puncture — more at point
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing pincer
Kids Definition
pincer
noun
pin·cer ˈpin-chər
ˈpin-sər
1
pincers plural : a tool with two handles and two jaws for holding or gripping small objects
2
: a part (as the claw of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers
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