Definition of wrench Wrench

/ɹɛˈnʧ/ - [rench] - wrench

We found 22 definitions of wrench from 6 different sources.

What does wrench mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: wrenches
wrench - a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
		spanner
		hand tool a tool used with workers' hands
		adjustable spanner, adjustable wrench can be changed to different settings
		allen wrench a wrench for Allen screws
		alligator wrench a wrench with a v-shaped jaw and serrations on one side (resembles the open jaws of an alligator)
		box end wrench, box wrench a wrench with a closed loop (a socket) that fits over a nut or bolt head
		brace wrench a wrench shaped like a brace (has a handle shaped like a crank) and a socket head
		bulldog wrench a wrench designed to provide a firm grip on something
		carriage wrench a wrench designed for use with carriage bolts
		dog wrench a wrench with a handle shaped like a crank
		hook spanner, hook wrench a wrench with a hook that fits over a nut or bolt head
		jaw holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
		lug wrench a wrench with jaws that have projecting lugs to engage the object that is to be rotated
		open-end wrench, tappet wrench a wrench having parallel jaws at fixed separation (often on both ends of the handle)
		pin wrench a wrench that has a projecting pin that fits into a socket on the object to be turned
		screw key a wrench for turning a screw
		socket wrench a wrench with a handle onto which sockets of different sizes can be fitted
		sparkplug wrench a wrench for removing or tightening spark plugs into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine
		tap wrench a wrench for turning a tap to create an internal screw thread
wrench - a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a hamstring pull"
		twist, pull
		trauma, harm, hurt, injury an emotional wound or shock often having long-lasting effects
wrench - a jerky pulling movement
		twist
		motion, movement the act of changing location from one place to another; "police controlled the motion of the crowd"; "the movement of people from the farms to the cities"; "his move put him directly in my path"
Verb wrenches, wrenching, wrenched
wrench - twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates; "wrench a window off its hinges"; "wrench oneself free from somebody's grip"; "a deep sigh was wrenched from his chest"
		twist
		pull strain abnormally; "I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up"; "The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition"
wrench - make a sudden twisting motion
		squirm, worm, wriggle, writhe, wrestle, twist to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort"; "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace"
wrench - twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days"
		twist, sprain, turn, wrick, rick
		wound, injure cause injuries or bodily harm to
wrench - twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish; "Wring one's hand"
		wring
		twine, distort, twist make by twisting together or intertwining; "twine a rope"
		wring out, squeeze out extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing; "wring out the washcloth"
		contort, wring, distort, deform twist and press out of shape

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Wiktionary

wrench (Noun)
A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug.
wrench (Noun)
An injury caused by a violent twisting or pulling of a limb; strain, sprain.
wrench (Noun)
A distorting change from the original meaning.
wrench (Noun)
A violent emotional change caused by separation.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

wrench (v. t.)
Trick; deceit; fraud; stratagem.
wrench (v. t.)
A violent twist, or a pull with twisting.
wrench (v. t.)
A sprain; an injury by twisting, as in a joint.
wrench (v. t.)
Means; contrivance.
wrench (v. t.)
An instrument, often a simple bar or lever with jaws or an angular orifice either at the end or between the ends, for exerting a twisting strain, as in turning bolts, nuts, screw taps, etc.; a screw key. Many wrenches have adjustable jaws for grasping nuts, etc., of different sizes.
wrench (v. t.)
The system made up of a force and a couple of forces in a plane perpendicular to that force. Any number of forces acting at any points upon a rigid body may be compounded so as to be equivalent to a wrench.
wrench (n.)
To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by violence.
wrench (n.)
To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

wrench
A hand tool for making rotational adjustments, such as fitting nuts and bolts, or fitting pipes.

Wikipedia

A wrench (spanner in British English) is a tool used to turn nuts and bolts, and similarly shaped objects.

Special wrenches.

An adjustable spanner, or adjustable wrench, or crescent wrench in American English, is a tool. It may move its jaw to rotate nuts or bolts of different sizes. It was invented by Edwin Beard Budding (1795-1846), who also invented the lawnmower.

An open end spanner or open end wrench is a tool used to turn nuts.