The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pinch \Pinch\, n.
   1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or
      with an instrument; a nip.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any
      very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff.
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   3. Pian; pang. "Necessary's sharp pinch." --Shak.
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   4. A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a
      fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called
      also pinch bar.
      [1913 Webster]

   At a pinch, On a pinch, in an emergency; as, he could on
      a pinch read a little Latin.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pinch \Pinch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pinched; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Pinching.] [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch;
   akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin.
   Cf. Piece.]
   1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers,
      between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an
      instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two
      hard bodies.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. to seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals. [Obs.]
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            He [the hound] pinched and pulled her down.
                                                  --Chapman.
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   3. To plait. [Obs.]
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            Full seemly her wimple ipinched was.  --Chaucer.
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   4. Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to
      starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money.
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            Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation. --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.
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   5. To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a
      pinch. See Pinch, n., 4.
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   6. To seize by way of theft; to steal; to lift. [Slang]
      --Robert Barr.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   7. to catch; to arrest (a criminal).
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pinch \Pinch\, v. i.
   1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as,
      the shoe pinches.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Hunt.) To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. --Gower.
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            The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare.
                                                  --Franklin.
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   To pinch at, to find fault with; to take exception to.
      [Obs.] --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pinch
    n 1: a painful or straitened circumstance; "the pinch of the
         recession"
    2: an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed
    3: a slight but appreciable amount; "this dish could use a touch
       of garlic" [syn: touch, hint, tinge, mite, pinch,
       jot, speck, soupcon]
    4: a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that
       requires immediate action; "he never knew what to do in an
       emergency" [syn: emergency, exigency, pinch]
    5: a small sharp bite or snip [syn: nip, pinch]
    6: a squeeze with the fingers [syn: pinch, tweak]
    7: the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal);
       "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar" [syn:
       apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, pinch, taking
       into custody]
    v 1: squeeze tightly between the fingers; "He pinched her
         behind"; "She squeezed the bottle" [syn: pinch,
         squeeze, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch]
    2: make ridges into by pinching together [syn: crimp, pinch]
    3: make off with belongings of others [syn: pilfer, cabbage,
       purloin, pinch, abstract, snarf, swipe, hook,
       sneak, filch, nobble, lift]
    4: cut the top off; "top trees and bushes" [syn: top, pinch]
    5: irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear; "smooth surfaces can
       vellicate the teeth"; "the pain is as if sharp points pinch
       your back" [syn: pinch, vellicate]