vise

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈvīs

: any of various tools with two jaws for holding work that close usually by a screw, lever, or cam

: something likened to a vise

… the economic vise of slow growth and rampant price increases.—David Milne

viselike

ˈvīs-ˌlīk

adjective

vise

2 of 4

verb (1)

vised; vising

transitive verb

: to hold, force, or squeeze with or as if with a vise

visé

3 of 4

verb (2)

vi·sé ˈvē-ˌzā

vē-ˈzā

viséd or viséed; viséing

transitive verb

: visa

visé

4 of 4

Examples of vise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

How about a bar clamp, bench vise or stud finder? — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 But each time, the Clintons found a way out of the vise. — Steven Sloan The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026

Verb

In Tempe's case, that means the city will have greater flexibility to enact regulations if the judge isn't convinced the picnics are protected expression, and vise versa. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025

Verb

Noun

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English vys, vice screw, from Anglo-French vyz, from Latin vitis vine — more at withy

Verb (2)

French, past participle of viser to visa, from visa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1602, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1810, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of vise was in 1500

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Browse Nearby Words

viscus

vise

visé

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Vise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vise. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

vise

noun

ˈvīs

: any of various tools with two jaws for holding work that close usually by a screw or lever

viselike adjective

vise

noun (1)

Illustration of vise

verb (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

Examples of vise in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

'Vise' and 'Vice': (Mostly) Not the...

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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vise

noun (1)

Illustration of vise

verb (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

Examples of vise in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for vise

Browse Nearby Words

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'Vise' and 'Vice': (Mostly) Not the...

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