1
: any of various tools with two jaws for holding work that close usually by a screw, lever, or cam
2
: something likened to a vise
… the economic vise of slow growth and rampant price increases.David Milne

Illustration of vise

Illustration of vise
  • vise 1

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)

viséd or viséed; viséing

visé

4 of 4

noun (2)

: visa

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vise. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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

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