1. The act of grasping
   "His clench on the rope tightened as he climbed";
   - clasp, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold
    
2. A small slip noose made with seizing
   "The sailor demonstrated how to tie a clench knot for securing fishing lines";
   - clinch

1. Hold in a tight grasp
   "clench a steering wheel";
   - clinch
    
2. Squeeze together tightly
   "clench one's jaw"

Derived forms: clenched, clenches, clenching

Type of: clutch, grasping, noose, prehend [archaic], prehension, running noose, seize, seizing, slip noose, squeeze, take hold, take hold of, taking hold

Encyclopedia: Clench, Wiltshire