pinch in WordNet English dictionary

1. make off with belongings of others
   pilfer  cabbage  purloin  pinch  abstract  snarf  swipe  hook  sneak  filch  nobble  lift 
   
2. make ridges into by pinching together
   crimp  pinch 
   
3. squeeze tightly between the fingers
   "He pinched her behind"; "She squeezed the bottle"
   pinch  squeeze  twinge  tweet  nip  twitch 
   
4. 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"
   pinch  vellicate 
   
5. cut the top off
   "top trees and bushes"
   top  pinch 
   

1. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
   "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
   apprehension  arrest  catch  collar  pinch  taking into custody 
   
2. a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
   "he never knew what to do in an emergency"
   emergency  exigency  pinch 
   
3. a slight but appreciable amount
   "this dish could use a touch of garlic"
   touch  hint  tinge  mite  pinch  jot  speck  soupcon 
   
4. a small sharp bite or snip
   nip  pinch 
   
5. a squeeze with the fingers
   pinch  tweak 
   
6. an injury resulting from getting some body part squeezed
   pinch 
   
7. a painful or straitened circumstance
   "the pinch of the recession"
   pinch