The verb to pinch means to squeeze something tightly between your thumb and finger, usually causing a sharp, uncomfortable feeling. If your little brother pinches your arm, he's pressing the skin between his fingers hard enough that it hurts. You might pinch your nose shut when something smells bad, or carefully pinch a caterpillar between two fingers to move it off the sidewalk.

The word also describes taking a small amount of something. A recipe might tell you to add a pinch of salt, meaning the tiny amount you can hold between your thumb and finger. A baker pinches off pieces of dough to form rolls.

Pinch can also mean a difficult situation or tight spot. When you're in a pinch, you're facing a problem with limited options or time. If you forgot your lunch money, a friend might lend you some in a pinch. People sometimes say that every penny counts when money is tight, meaning they're feeling the pinch financially.

As a noun, a pinch is the act of pinching or the amount pinched: “That pinch really hurt!” or “Add a pinch of cinnamon.”

Less commonly, to pinch can mean to steal something small, though this is old-fashioned slang.