1. (n.) Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.

2. (n.) An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together.

3. (n.) A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into another, to bind or strengthen.

4. (n.) One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material, to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising.

5. (n.) A thick plank on the inner part of a ship's side, used to sustain the ends of beams.

6. (n.) A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal for coking.

7. (n.) A mollusk. See Clam.

8. (v. t.) To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp.

9. (v. t.) To cover, as vegetables, with earth.

10. (n.) A heavy footstep; a tramp.

11. (v. i.) To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump.

affix alum anchor annex astringent attach bear hug belay bite brace bracket cement cinch clasp clench clinch cling clinging clip clutch compress compressor constrictor contractor cramp crush death grip embrace engraft ensphere fasten fastener firm hold fix foothold footing graft grapple grasp grip gripe hold hug iron grip knit make fast moor nip pincer pinch press purchase put to screw up secure seizure set set to squeeze styptic styptic pencil tenure tight grip tighten toehold trice up trim tweak vice vise wad up