winch

UK: /ˈwɪntʃ/ US: /wɪntʃ/ ,(winch)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

winch¹ /wɪntʃ/   n. [countable]

1. Mechanical Engineering the crank or handle of a revolving machine.
2. Mechanical Engineering a device for hoisting or hauling.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

winch¹  (winch), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering the crank or handle of a revolving machine.
2. Mechanical Engineering a windlass turned by a crank, for hoisting or hauling.
3. Mechanical Engineering any of various devices for cranking.
4. Textiles Also, wince. 
   • any machine equipped with rollers that guide cloth through a dye or finishing solution in an open vat.
   • a roller between two dyeing vats for passing cloth from one vat to another.

v.t. 

5. Mechanical Engineering to hoist or haul (a load) by means of a winch.

• bef. 1050; Middle English winche, Old English wince pulley; akin to wench, wince¹, wink¹

winch′er, n. 

winch²  (winch), v.i., n. [Archaic.]

1. wince¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

winch / wɪntʃ/ noun

1. a windlass driven by a hand- or power-operated crank
2. a hand- or power-operated crank by which a machine is driven

verb

1. (tr; often followed by up or in) to pull (in a rope) or lift (a weight) using a winch

Etymology: Old English wince pulley; related to wink¹

winch / wɪntʃ/ verb

1. (intransitive)
   an obsolete word for wince1