clincher
clincher Lexical Profile
clincher Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively or decides a contest.
"The candidate's extensive international experience was the clincher that secured her the job offer."
A standard type of pneumatic bicycle or vehicle tire having beaded edges that hook onto the inner flanges of the wheel rim to hold it securely in place.
"Most recreational cyclists prefer riding on a durable clincher because a punctured inner tube can be easily replaced on the roadside."
A specialized clamp, fastener, or farrier's tool used to clinch nails, rivets, or bolts.
"The farrier used a steel clincher to bend and flatten the protruding tips of the horseshoe nails against the hoof wall."
• Rhymes for clincher
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 18th century as an agent noun from the verb 'clinch' (a variant of 'clench'), originally referring to a carpenter's tool or nail before acquiring the figurative sense of a decisive argument.