I. ˈklamp, -aa(ə)mp, -aimp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, probably from (assumed) Middle Dutch klampe (whence Dutch klamp ); akin to Old High German klampfer clamp, Old Norse kleppr lump, Old English clamm bond, fetter — more at clam
1.
a. : a device (as a band or brace) designed to bind or constrict or to press two or more parts together so as to hold them firmly in their relative position
b. : any of various instruments or appliances having parts brought together (as by a screw) for holding or compressing something: as
(1) : an instrument used to hold, compress, or crush vessels and hollow organs and to aid in surgical excision of parts
(2) : one of a pair of false jaws
2. obsolete : clam , mollusk
3. also clamp strake : a structural member of a ship running inside the frames from the stempost to the transom or sternpost and fastened to the frames and deck beams or shelf and serving to increase longitudinal stiffness of the hull — see ship illustration
4.
a. : stop , obstacle
a clamp on debate
b. : hold , grip
takes a firm clamp on the reader's imagination — Martin Levin
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1.
a. : to fasten or press with or as if with a clamp
clamp two boards together
a pipe clamped between his teeth
b. : to grasp firmly : hold
the ground was clamped by winter — A.J.Cronin
2. : to force or impress authoritatively — often used with on or upon
clamped a censorship on the news of his defeat — Nation
controls were clamped on bank lending — E.L.Dale
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from Dutch klamp heap; akin to Old English clympre lump of metal — more at clump
: a compact pile or heaped-up mass of materials: as
a. : a number of bricks piled up in a particular form for burning
b. Britain : a heap of produce covered over usually with straw or earth to prevent freezing
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Britain : to heap or stack (as bricks or root crops) in a clamp
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: imitative
: clump I 4
VI. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: clump II 1