punch¹ / pənch/ • v. [tr.] 1. strike with the fist: he punched her in the face and ran off. ∎  drive with a blow from the fist: he punched the ball into his own goal.2. press (a button or key on a machine). ∎  (punch something in/into) enter information by this action.3. drive (cattle) by prodding them with a stick.• n. a blow with the fist. ∎ inf. the strength needed to deliver such a blow: he has the punch to knock out anyone in his division. ∎  [in sing.] inf. the power to impress or startle: photos give their arguments an extra visual punch.PHRASES: beat someone to the punch inf. anticipate or forestall someone's actions.punch the (time) clock (of an employee) punch in or out. ∎  be employed in a conventional job with regular hours.punch someone's lights out beat someone up; knock someone unconscious.punch something up1. use a computer keyboard to call something to the screen: people will be able to punch up Andy Warhol and get text, photographs, and video on the entire Pop Art period.2. inf. enliven: he needed to punch up his meandering presentation.PHRASAL VERBS: punch in (or out) register one's arrival at (or departure from) work, esp. by means of a time clock: she couldn't punch in, because there were no time clocks.DERIVATIVES: punch·er n.punch² • n. 1. a device or machine for making holes in materials such as paper, leather, metal, and plaster.2. a tool or machine for impressing a design or stamping a die on a material.• v. [tr.] pierce a hole in (metal, paper, leather, etc.) with or as though with a punch. ∎  pierce (a hole) with or as though with a punch.punch³ • n. a drink made with fruit juices, soda, spices, and sometimes liquor, typically served in small cups from a large bowl.punch⁴ • n. (Punch) a grotesque, hook-nosed, humpbacked buffoon, the chief male character of the Punch and Judy show. Punch is the English variant of a stock character derived ultimately from Italian commedia dell'arte. Also called Punchinello. PHRASES: pleased as Punch feeling great delight or pride.