SQUINCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does squinch mean? 

• SQUINCH (noun)
  The noun SQUINCH has 1 sense:

1. a small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire)

  Familiarity information: SQUINCH used as a noun is very rare.

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

1. crouch down

2. draw back, as with fear or pain

3. cross one's eyes as if in strabismus

  Familiarity information: SQUINCH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SQUINCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

arch ((architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it)

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

trumpet arch (a conical squinch)

• SQUINCH (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Crouch down

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

bend; bow; crouch; stoop (bend one's back forward from the waist on down)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Draw back, as with fear or pain

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

cringe; flinch; funk; quail; recoil; shrink; squinch; wince

Context example:

she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf

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

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "squinch"):

retract; shrink back (pull away from a source of disgust or fear)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cross one's eyes as if in strabismus

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

squinch; squint

Context example:

The children squinted so as to scare each other

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

grimace; make a face; pull a face (contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s