Punch
(pŭnch)n. The quarrelsome hook-nosed husband of Judy in the comic puppet show Punch and Judy.
Idiom: pleased as Punch Highly pleased; gratified.
punch 1
(pŭnch)n.1. A tool for circular or other piercing: a leather punch.
2. A tool for forcing a pin, bolt, or rivet in or out of a hole.
3. A tool for stamping a design on a surface.
4. A tool for making a countersink.
v. punched, punch·ing, punch·es
v.tr.1. To make (a hole or opening), as by using a punch or similar implement.
2. To make a hole in (something), as by using a punch: The conductor punched my train ticket.
v.intr. To pierce something; make a hole or opening: My foot punched through the ice.
[Middle English pounce, punche, from Old French poinçon, ponchon; see puncheon1. V., from Middle English pouncen, punchen, to prick, from Old French poinçoner, ponchoner, to emboss with a punch; see punch2.]
punch′er n.
punch 2
(pŭnch)tr.v. punched,
punch·ing,
punch·es 1. a. To hit with a sharp blow of the fist.
b. To drive (the fist) into or through something.
c. To drive (a ball, for example) with the fist.
d. To make (a hole) by thrusting the fist.
2. a. Archaic To poke or prod with a stick.
b. Western US To herd (cattle).
3. To depress (the accelerator of a car) forcefully.
4. a. To depress (a key or button, for example) in order to activate a device or perform an operation: punched the "repeat" key.
b. To enter (data) by keying: punched in the number on the computer.
5. Baseball To hit (a ball) with a quick short swing.
n.1. A blow with the fist.
2. Impressive or effective force; impact. See Synonyms at
vigor.
Phrasal Verbs: punch in1. To check in formally at a job upon arrival.
2. To enter data on a keypad or similar device.
punch out1. To check out formally at a job upon departure.
2. To hit (someone) with a powerful punch, often so as to render unconscious.
3. Baseball To call (a batter) out on a third strike, often using a punching motion as a signal.
punch up To enliven or enhance: punched up the report by adding some relevant cartoons.
Idioms: beat to the punch To make the first decisive move: a marketing team that beat all the competitors to the punch.
punch the clock1. To register one's arrive or departure at a job.
2. To be employed at a job with regular hours.
[Middle English punchen, to thrust, prod, prick, from Old French poinçonner, ponchonner, to emboss with a punch, from poinçon, ponchon, pointed tool; see puncheon1.]
punch′less adj.
punch 3
(pŭnch)n. A beverage of fruit juices and sometimes a soft drink or carbonated water, often spiced and mixed with a wine or liquor base.
[From Hindi
pañc-,
five, probably as used in
pañcāmr̥t,
a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar, and honey used in Hindu ritual, from Sanskrit
pañcāmṛtam :
pañca,
five; see
penkwe in
Indo-European roots +
amṛtam,
amrita.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
punch
(pʌntʃ) vb1. to strike blows (at), esp with a clenched fist
2. (Agriculture) (tr) Western US to herd or drive (cattle), esp for a living
3. (tr) to poke or prod with a stick or similar object
4. punch above one's weight to do something that is considered to be beyond one's ability
n5. a blow with the fist
6. informal telling force, point, or vigour: his arguments lacked punch.
7. pull one's punches See
pull26 [C15: perhaps a variant of pounce2]
ˈpuncher n
punch
(pʌntʃ) n1. (Tools) a tool or machine for piercing holes in a material
2. (Tools) any of various tools used for knocking a bolt, rivet, etc, out of a hole
3. (Tools) a tool or machine used for stamping a design on something or shaping it by impact
4. (Tools) the solid die of a punching machine for cutting, stamping, or shaping material
5. (Computer Science) computing a device, such as a card punch or tape punch, used for making holes in a card or paper tape
vb (Tools) (tr) to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
[C14: shortened from puncheon, from Old French ponçon; see puncheon2]
punch
(pʌntʃ) n (Brewing) any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced
[C17: perhaps from Hindi pānch, from Sanskrit pañca five; the beverage originally included five ingredients]
Punch
(pʌntʃ) n (Theatre) the main character in the traditional children's puppet show Punch and Judy
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
punch1
(pʌntʃ)
n. 1. a thrusting blow, esp. with the fist.
2. forcefulness or effectiveness; power.
v.t. 3. to give a sharp thrust or blow to, esp. with the fist.
4. Western U.S. and Canada. to drive (cattle).
5. to poke or prod, as with a stick.
6. to strike or hit in operating: to punch an elevator button.
7. to put into operation with or as if with a blow: to punch a time clock.
8. to produce or extract, as from a computer, by striking keys: to punch out data on sales.
9. to hit (a baseball) with a short, chopping motion rather than with a full swing.
v.i. 10. to give sharp blows, as with the fist.
11. punch in, a. to record one's time of arrival at work by punching a time clock.
b. to enter (data), as into a computer, by striking keys.
12. punch out, a. to record one's time of departure from work by punching a time clock.
b. Slang. to beat up or knock out with the fists.
13. punch up, to add zest or vigor to; enliven.
Idioms: pull punches, a. to lessen the force of one's punches deliberately.
b. Informal. to restrain oneself from full action; hold back.
[1350–1400; Middle English (v.); appar. variant of
pounce1]
punch′er, n.
punch2
(pʌntʃ)
n. 1. a tool or machine for perforating or stamping materials, driving nails, etc.
2. a device for making holes, as in paper.
v.t. 3. to perforate, stamp, drive, etc., with a punch.
4. to make (a hole) with a punch.
punch3
(pʌntʃ)
n. 1. a drink consisting of wine or spirits mixed with fruit juice, soda, etc., and often sweetened and spiced.
2. a beverage of two or more fruit juices, sugar, and water.
[1625–35; of uncertain orig.]
Punch
(pʌntʃ)
n. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.