pincer
part of speech
noun (a pincer, pincers; usually plural)
meaning for a pupil
1) One of the two claws of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used for gripping. tree →
2) Pincers: a tool with two handles and two curved jaws for gripping things or pulling out nails. tree →
3) A pincer movement: an attack in which two groups come at an enemy from both sides. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science lessons on minibeasts and sea creatures: crabs, lobsters, earwigs and scorpions have pincers. In DT, pincers pull nails. In history lessons about battles, a pincer movement traps an army between two forces.
examples
- The crab nipped my finger with its pincer. tree →
- Earwigs have pincers at the end of their bodies. tree →
- Dad pulled the nail out with a pair of pincers. tree →
- The scorpion grabbed the beetle with its pincers. tree →
- The army attacked in a pincer movement from the north and south. tree →
- A lobster's pincers are very strong. tree →
- So the crab caught hold of his neck with his claws as securely as with a pair of blacksmith's pincers, and called out, "Off with you, now!" tree →
note
Countable; often plural. The tool is «a pair of pincers», like «a pair of scissors». Do not confuse with «pliers» (a tool for gripping and bending) though they are similar. Safety: be gentle with crabs on the beach and put them back where you found them.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «pincer» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.