PUNCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does punch mean? 

• PUNCH (noun)
  The noun PUNCH has 3 senses:

1. (boxing) a blow with the fist

2. an iced mixed drink usually containing alcohol and prepared for multiple servings; normally served in a punch bowl

3. a tool for making holes or indentations

  Familiarity information: PUNCH used as a noun is uncommon.

• PUNCH (verb)
  The verb PUNCH has 3 senses:

1. deliver a quick blow to

2. drive forcibly as if by a punch

3. make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation

  Familiarity information: PUNCH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUNCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(boxing) a blow with the fist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

biff; clout; lick; poke; punch; slug

Context example:

I gave him a clout on his nose

Hypernyms ("punch" is a kind of...):

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

Domain category:

boxing; fisticuffs; pugilism (fighting with the fists)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "punch"):

counter; counterpunch; parry (a return punch (especially by a boxer))

haymaker; knockout punch; KO punch; Sunday punch (a hard punch that renders the opponent unable to continue boxing)

hook (a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent)

jab (a quick short straight punch)

rabbit punch (a short chopping blow to the back of the neck)

sucker punch (an unexpected punch)

Derivation:

punch (deliver a quick blow to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An iced mixed drink usually containing alcohol and prepared for multiple servings; normally served in a punch bowl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("punch" is a kind of...):

mixed drink (made of two or more ingredients)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "punch"):

fruit punch (a punch made of fruit juices mixed with water or soda water (with or without alcohol))

milk punch (a punch made of spirits and milk and sugar and spices)

cup (a punch served in a pitcher instead of a punch bowl)

wassail (a punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas)

fish house punch (a punch made of rum and brandy and water or tea sweetened with sugar syrup)

May wine (a punch made of Moselle and sugar and sparkling water or champagne flavored with sweet woodruff)

eggnog (a punch made of sweetened milk or cream mixed with eggs and usually alcoholic liquor)

glogg (Scandinavian punch made of claret and aquavit with spices and raisins and orange peel and sugar)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A tool for making holes or indentations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

punch; puncher

Hypernyms ("punch" is a kind of...):

tool (an implement used in the practice of a vocation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "punch"):

center punch (a tool with a conical point that is used to make indentations in metal (especially to mark points for drilling))

punch pliers (punch consisting of pliers for perforating paper or leather)

Derivation:

punch (make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation)

• PUNCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they punch    ... he / she / it punches   
Past simple: punched   
Past participle: punched   
-ing form: punching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Deliver a quick blow to

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

plug; punch

Context example:

he punched me in the stomach

Hypernyms (to "punch" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to punch his opponent

Derivation:

punch ((boxing) a blow with the fist)

puncher (someone who delivers punches)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Drive forcibly as if by a punch

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

the nail punched through the wall

Hypernyms (to "punch" is one way to...):

thrust (push forcefully)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

perforate; punch

Context example:

perforate the sheets of paper

Hypernyms (to "punch" is one way to...):

pierce (make a hole into)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

punch; puncher (a tool for making holes or indentations)

 Context examples 

But punch, my dear Copperfield, said Mr. Micawber, tasting it, like time and tide, waits for no man.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Now look here, Joe," he said; "if you act that way, I'll punch your head. An for old friends' sake I'll punch it hard. Savve?—you will, will you?"

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A characteristic of a medicinal product, specifying that its most predominant agreeable savor detected by the unified sensation of taste and olfactory receptors resembles fruit punch.

(Fruit Punch Flavor, NCI Thesaurus)

While both explosions delivered a similar energetic punch, no shock breakout was seen in the smaller of the supergiants.

(Kepler Catches Early Flash of an Exploding Star, NASA)

Look ’ere, ’Ump, he began, a malicious light in his eyes and a snarl in his throat; d’ye want yer nose punched?

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I think you would if you had Laurie for a pupil. I shall be very sorry to lose him next year," said Mr. Brooke, busily punching holes in the turf.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

When a volcano begins erupting beneath a sheet of ice on Earth, the rapidly generated steam typically leads to explosions that punch through the ice and propel ash high into the sky.

(Clues about Volcanoes Under Ice on Ancient Mars, NASA)

Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The act of forming granules by mechanically applying pressure by punch and die to form a compact that is subsequently milled and screened resulting in dry granules.

(Dry Slugging Granulation, NCI Thesaurus)

He was a man loved and honoured by all who knew him; and in his youth was, I have heard, the inventor of a burnt rum punch, much patronised on Derby night.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)