punches Definition

punch¹
verb punched, punching

tr & intr
1. To hit someone or something with the fist.

Thesaurus: strike, hit, knock, jab, clobber, box, slap.
(especially US & Austral)
2. To poke or prod with a stick; to drive (cattle, etc). 3 to prod, poke or strike smartly, especially with a blunt object, the foot, etc.

Example: McCoist punched the ball into the back of the net

noun punches

1. A blow with the fist.
2. Vigour and effectiveness in speech or writing.

Idiom: pack a punch

See under pack¹.

Etymology: 14c: a variant of pounce¹.

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punch²
noun punches

1. A tool for cutting or piercing holes or notches, or stamping designs, in leather, paper, metal, etc.
2. A tool for driving nail-heads well down into a surface.

verb punched, punching

1. To pierce, notch or stamp something with a punch.
2. computing., old use
To use a key punch to record (data) on (a card or tape).

Etymology: 15c: shortened from puncheon a piercing tool.

Phrasal Verb: punch in or out

To clock in or out.

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punch³
noun

punches
1. A drink, usually an alcoholic one, made up of a mixture of other drinks, which can be served either hot or cold.

Etymology: 17c: said to be from Hindi panch five, as the drink was originally made from five ingredients (spirits, water, lemon juice, sugar and spice).

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punch⁴
Punch
noun

punches
1. A short-legged draughthorse, usually chestnut in colour.

Example: a Suffolk Punch

Etymology: 19c.