The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CLAMP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
L
A
M
P
More clues leading to the result CLAMP
- Strengthening device left in holiday site
- Put hands together round middle of stomach and squeeze hard
- Immobilize reticent type, parking
- Squeeze puts pressure on silent type
- Council disheartened by current measure for parking intervention
- City overwhelmed by Conservative member’s vice
- Mollusc served with soft pile of potatoes?
- Stack of bricks left in permanent depot
- Applaud men coming in to immobilise car
- Vice seen in cold light
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Strengthening device" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case strengthening device = clamp.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CLAMP mean?
CLAMP noun- A brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.
- An instrument used to temporarily shut off blood vessels, etc.
- A parking enforcement device used to immobilise a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.
- A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal coking.
- A pile of root vegetables stored under a layer of earth.
- A piece of wood (batten) across the grain of a board end to keep it flat, as in a breadboard.
- An electronic circuit that fixes either the positive or the negative peak excursions of a signal to a defined value by shifting its DC value.
- To fasten in place or together with (or as if with) a clamp.
- To hold or grip tightly.
- To modify (a numeric value) so it lies within a specific range.
- To cover (vegetables, etc.) with earth.
- A heavy footstep; a tramp.
- To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump or clomp.