Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: poinçonner 'to make a hole in', from poinçon 'tool for making holes'

punch

1 verb
     
punch1 S3 [transitive]
1

hit

to hit someone or something hard with your fist (=closed hand):
He punched me and knocked my teeth out.
punch somebody on/in something
He punched Jack in the face.
2

make holes

to make a hole in something, using a metal tool or other sharp object:
The guard punched my ticket and I got on.
These bullets can punch a hole through 20 mm steel plate.
3

push buttons

to push a button or key on a machine:
Just punch the button to select a track.
4

punch holes in somebody's argument/idea/plans etc

to criticize someone's views, idea, plans etc by showing why they are wrong
5

punch the air

to make a movement like a punch towards the sky, to show that you are very pleased:
He punched the air in triumph.
6

punch somebody's lights out

informal to hit someone hard in the face
7

punch the clock

American English informalBEC to record the time that you start or finish work by putting a card into a special machine
8

cattle

American English old-fashionedTA to move cattle from one place to another
9

punch above your weight

informal if businesses, organizations, teams etc punch above their weight, they are successful in an activity or task which usually needs more money, power, skill etc than they seem to have - used especially in newspapers

punch in

phrasal verb
1 American EnglishBEC to record the time that you arrive at work, by putting a card into a special machine [= clock in British English]
2TD

punch something ↔ in

TD to put information into a computer by pressing buttons or keys

punch out

phrasal verb
1BEC to record the time that you leave work, by putting a card into a special machine [= clock out British English]
2

punch somebody out

to hit someone so hard that they become unconscious
WORD FOCUS: hit WORD FOCUS: hit
with your fist: punch, thump, bash
with your open hand as a punishment: smack, spank, slap
with a hammer: bang, hammer
in order to get attention: bang, knock, tap, hammer
accidentally: bump into, crash into, strike, bang, knock, collide (with)

➔ See also hit
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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