Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pincer

/ˈpɪnsəɹ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.36 in modern English

Syllables: pin-cer
IPA: /ˈpɪnsəɹ/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Any object that resembles one half of a pair of pincers.

verb

To surround with a pincer attack.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"After considering all frontal counteroffensive alternatives, Heublein rejected them as detrimental to its profits and came up with a brilliant pincering maneuver. It raised the price of Smirnoff by one dollar, effectively preventing segment diffusion, […]"
"The minesweeper and the sea tug now came along either side, pincered the Vega, and seemed to be ushering it toward Moruroa, perhaps attempting to push the ketch inside the 12-mile limit."

Etymology

From Middle English pynsor, from Old French pinceure, pinchure, from pincier (“to pinch”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: pynsor, pinceure

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

pincers (plural) pincher (alternative) pincers (present, singular) pincering (participle, present) pincered (participle, past) pincered (past)

Derived Forms

pincerlike pincertail pincerwise

Phrases

pincer attack pincer gate pincer movement

Synonyms

claw chela nipper pair of pincers tweezer pair of tweezers

Questions

How do you pronounce pincer?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɪnsəɹ/.
What does pincer mean?: Any object that resembles one half of a pair of pincers.
Where does pincer come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pincer

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pincer”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɪnsəɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pincer”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pincer” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.