pinch

(noun) a painful or straitened circumstance. Examples: "The pinch of the recession."

(noun) an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed.

(noun) a slight but appreciable amount. Synonyms: touch, hint, tinge, mite, jot, speck, soupcon. Examples: "This dish could use a touch of garlic."

(noun) a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action. Synonyms: emergency, exigency. Examples: "He never knew what to do in an emergency."

(noun) a small sharp bite or snip. Synonyms: nip.

(noun) a squeeze with the fingers. Synonyms: tweak.

(noun) the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal). Synonyms: apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, taking into custody. Examples: "The policeman on the beat got credit for the collar."

(verb) squeeze tightly between the fingers. Synonyms: squeeze, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch. Examples: "He pinched her behind." "She squeezed the bottle."

(verb) make ridges into by pinching together. Synonyms: crimp.

(verb) make off with belongings of others. Synonyms: pilfer, cabbage, purloin, abstract, snarf, swipe, hook, sneak, filch, nobble, lift.

(verb) cut the top off. Synonyms: top. Examples: "Top trees and bushes."

(verb) irritate as if by a nip, pinch, or tear. Synonyms: vellicate. Examples: "Smooth surfaces can vellicate the teeth." "The pain is as if sharp points pinch your back."