Clinch (kl&ibreve;nch; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clinched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clinching.] [OE. clenchen, prop. causative of clink to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D. klinken to tinkle, rivet. See Clink.] 1. To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly. "Clinch the pointed spear." Dryden.

2. To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth or the first. Swift.

3. To bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven through an object), so that it will hold fast; as, to clinch a nail.

4. To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish; as, to clinch an argument. South.

Clinch, v. i. To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one another.

Clinch (kl&ibreve;nch), n. 1. The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast; as, to get a good clinch of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure anything by a clinch.

2. A pun. Pope.

3. (Naut.) A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an anchor, or the breeching of a ship's gun to the ringbolts.

• To make certain; to finalize.
       I already planned to buy the car, but the color was what really clinched it for me.
  
• To fasten securely or permanently.