punch 1
— puncher , n.
/punch/ , n.
1. a thrusting blow, esp. with the fist.
2. forcefulness, effectiveness, or pungency in content or appeal; power; zest: a letter to voters that needs more punch.
3. pull punches ,
a. to lessen deliberately the force of one's blows.
b. Informal. to act with restraint or hold back the full force or implications of something: He wasn't going to pull any punches when he warned them of what they would be up against.
4. roll with the punches , Informal. to cope with and survive adversity: In the business world you quickly learn to roll with the punches.
v.t.
5. to give a sharp thrust or blow to, esp. with the fist.
6. Western U.S. and Western Canada. to drive (cattle).
7. to poke or prod, as with a stick.
8. Informal. to deliver (lines in a play, a musical passage, or the like) with vigor.
9. to strike or hit in operating: to punch the typewriter keys.
10. to put into operation with or as if with a blow: to punch a time clock.
11. Baseball. to hit (the ball) with a short, chopping motion rather than with a full swing: He punched a soft liner just over third base for a base hit.
v.i.
12. to give a sharp blow to a person or thing, as with the fist: The boxer punches well.
13. punch away , Informal. to keep trying or working, esp. in difficult or discouraging circumstances; persevere: punching away at the same old job.
14. punch in ,
a. to record one's time of arrival at work by punching a time clock.
b. to keyboard (information) into a computer: to punch in the inventory figures.
15. 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.
c. to extract (information) from a computer by the use of a keyboard: to punch out data on last week's sales.
d. to bail out; eject from an aircraft.
16. punch up ,
a. to call up (information) on a computer by the use of a keyboard: to punch up a list of hotel reservations.
b. Informal. to enliven, as with fresh ideas or additional material: You'd better punch up that speech with a few jokes.
[ 1350-1400; ME punchen (v.); appar. var. of POUNCE 1 ]
Syn. 5. strike, hit; drub, pummel.
punch 2
— punchable , adj.
/punch/ , n.
1. a tool or machine for perforating or stamping materials, driving nails, etc.
2. the solid upper die of a punch press, used with a hollow die to blank out shaped pieces of sheet metal or the like.
v.t.
3. to cut, stamp, pierce, perforate, form, or drive with a tool or machine that punches.
v.i.
4. to work at or on something with or as if with a mechanical punch.
[ 1495-1505; short for PUNCHEON 2 , reinforced by PUNCH 1 ]
punch 3
/punch/ , n.
1. a beverage consisting of wine or spirits mixed with fruit juice, soda, water, milk, or the like, and flavored with sugar, spices, etc.
2. a beverage of two or more fruit juices, sugar, and water, sometimes carbonated.
[ 1625-35; of uncert. orig. ]