/ pʌntʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
punch sb/sth (in / on sth) to hit sb/sth hard with your fist (= closed hand) :
He was kicked and punched as he lay on the ground.
She punched him on the nose.
He was punching the air in triumph.
2.
punch sth (in / through sth) to make a hole in sth with a punch noun (3) or some other sharp object :
to punch a time card
The machine punches a row of holes in the metal sheet.
3.
[ vn ] to press buttons or keys on a computer, telephone, etc. in order to operate it :
I punched the button to summon the elevator.
► punch·er noun :
He's one of boxing's strongest punchers.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- punch in / out
- punch sth in | punch sth into sth
- punch sb out
- punch sth out
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a hard hit made with the fist (= closed hand) :
a punch in the face
Hill threw a punch at the police officer.
a knockout punch
He shot out his right arm and landed a punch on Lorrimer's nose.
2.
[ U ] the power to interest people :
It's a well-constructed crime story, told with speed and punch.
3.
[ C ] a tool or machine for cutting holes in paper, leather or metal :
a hole punch
4.
[ U ] a hot or cold drink made by mixing water, fruit juice, spices, and usually wine or another alcoholic drink
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IDIOMS
see beat verb , pack verb , pull verb , roll verb
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WORD ORIGIN
verb sense 1 and verb sense 3 noun senses 1 to 2 and pvsym. late Middle English (as a verb in the sense puncture, prod ): variant of pounce .
noun sense 3 and verb sense 2 early 16th cent.: perhaps an abbreviation of puncheon , or from the verb punch hit somebody / something hard .
noun sense 4 mid 17th cent.: apparently from Sanskrit pañca five, five kinds of (because the drink had five ingredients).