Definition of WINCE

wince

Plural: winces

Noun

  • the facial expression of sudden pain
  • a reflex response to sudden pain
  • A sudden movement or gesture of shrinking away.
  • 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.

Verb

Verb Forms: winced, wincing, winces

  • To flinch involuntarily from pain or distress.
  • draw back, as with fear or pain
  • make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    • "She winced when she heard his pompous speech"
  • To flinch as if in pain or distress.
  • To wash (cloth), dip it in dye, etc., with the use of a wince.
  • To kick or flounce when unsteady or impatient.

Examples

  • A horse winces.
  • He couldn’t help but wince as his opponent played ’QUIXOTRY’ on a triple-word score.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English wyncen, from Anglo-Norman winchir (compare Old French guenchir), from Frankish *wankjan, related to *winkijan (“to flex, bend”). See also German winken.

Scrabble Score: 10

wince: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
wince: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
wince: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

wince: valid Words With Friends Word