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# pincer

noun (a pincer, pincers; usually plural)

«pincer» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. One of the two claws of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used for gripping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#m1)
2. Pincers: a tool with two handles and two curved jaws for gripping things or pulling out nails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#m2)
3. A pincer movement: an attack in which two groups come at an enemy from both sides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#m3)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x1)
- Earwigs have pincers at the end of their bodies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x2)
- Dad pulled the nail out with a pair of pincers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x3)
- The scorpion grabbed the beetle with its pincers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x4)
- The army attacked in a pincer movement from the north and south. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x5)
- A lobster's pincers are very strong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x6)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/#x7)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pincer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pincer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pincer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pincer.html) on Mova free.