Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old North French
Origin: wenchier 'to be impatient, move about suddenly'

wince

 verb
     
wince [intransitive]
1HBH to suddenly change the expression on your face as a reaction to something painful or upsetting:
Sandra winced as the dentist started to drill.
2 to suddenly feel very uncomfortable or embarrassed because of something that happens, something you remember etc [= cringe]
wince at the memory/thought/idea
I still wince at the thought of that terrible evening.
—wince noun [singular]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary