The Collaborative Dictionary

Wince \Wince\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Winced; p. pr. & vb. n. Wincing.] [OE. wincen, winchen, OF. quencir, guenchir, guenchier, giencier, guinchier, and (assumed) winchier, winchir, to give way, to turn aside, fr. OHG. wankjan, wenken, to give way, to waver, fr. winchan to turn aside, to nod, akin to E. wink. See Wink.] [1913 Webster]

To shrink, as from a blow, or from pain; to flinch; to start back. [1913 Webster] I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To kick or flounce when unsteady, or impatient at a rider; as, a horse winces. [1913 Webster]

Wince \Wince\, n. The act of one who winces. [1913 Webster]

Wince \Wince\, n. [See Winch.] (Dyeing & Calico Printing) A reel used in dyeing, steeping, or washing cloth; a winch. It is placed over the division wall between two wince pits so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment. at will. [1913 Webster] Wince pit, Wince pot, a tank or a pit where cloth in the process of dyeing or manufacture is washed, dipped in a mordant, or the like. [1913 Webster]

Word Net

wince

1 the facial expression of sudden pain

2 a reflex response to sudden pain [syn: flinch]

1 draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, recoil, quail]

2 make a face indicating disgust or dislike; "She winced when she heard his pompous speech"

Moby Thesaurus

ache, agonize, ail, anguish, avoid, avoidance, blanch, blench, blink, boggle, cower, cringe, demur, dodge, draw back, draw in, duck, evade, evasion, fade, fall back, fallback, falter, feel pain, feel the pangs, fight shy of, flinch, funk, grimace, hang back, hang off, have a misery, have qualms, hesitate, hold off, hurt, jib, make bones about, pause, pound, pull back, pull in, pull out, pullback, pullout, quail, recoil, reel back, retract, retreat, scruple, sheer, sheer off, shoot, shrink, shrink back, shy, shy at, sidestep, sidestepping, smart, squinch, start, start aside, start back, stick at, stickle, strain, suffer, swerve, thrill, throb, tingle, turn, turn aside, twinge, twitch, waver, weasel, weasel out, withdraw, writhe

English

Pronunciation

• /wɪns/
• Rhymes with: -ɪns

Noun

1. A sudden movement or gesture of shrinking away.

Translations

Verb

1. To flinch as if in pain or distress.

Translations