clamp
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a tool that you use to hold two things together very tightly while you work on them.
n.a mechanical device used to strengthen or hold objects together by applying inward pressure.
Simple“He used a metal clamp to hold the pieces of wood together while the glue dried.”
In context“The carpenter tightened the G-clamp until the two joints were perfectly aligned and immobile for the duration of the curing process.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a medical tool used by doctors to stop blood from flowing through a vessel during an operation.
n.a surgical instrument designed to compress a structure, such as a blood vessel or a duct, to prevent leakage or flow.
Simple“The surgeon placed a clamp on the artery to stop the bleeding.”
In context“The surgical team monitored the pressure carefully after the vascular clamp was applied to ensure no damage occurred to the vessel walls.”
Synonymshemostat - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a metal lock put on a car wheel by the police so the car cannot be driven away.
n.a device attached to the wheel of a vehicle to prevent it from being driven, typically used for parking enforcement.
Simple“He returned to his car only to find a yellow clamp on the front wheel.”
In context“The council authorised the use of a wheel clamp after the vehicle had accumulated several unpaid parking fines over the preceding months.”
Synonymswheel clampboot - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hold something very tightly or to fix it in place using a tool.
v.to fasten or secure an object in place with a clamp; to grip something with great force.
Simple“She clamped her hands over her ears to block out the loud noise.”
In context“The machine part must be clamped firmly to the workbench before you begin the drilling process to avoid any dangerous shifts in position.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to limit a number so it stays between a certain high and low point.
v.to restrict a numerical value to a specific range, replacing any value outside the range with the nearest boundary value.
Simple“The software will clamp the volume level so it never gets too loud for the speakers.”
In context“The algorithm is designed to clamp the output signal between zero and one to prevent data overflow during the final processing stage.”
“There’s a clamp for the phone next to the screen, and a small hatch below allows access to a USB charging port; it has enough space to store long charging cords.”
From Middle Dutch clamp, klampe (“a clamp, hook”), from Proto-Germanic klampō (“clamp, clasp, cramp”), related to Proto-West Germanic klammjan. Cognate with Middle Low German klampe (“hook, clasp”), German Klampfe, Klampe (“clamp, cleat”), Norwegian klamp (“clamp”), Alemannic German Chlempi.
Imitative.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.