Serrer

Serrer is a French verb meaning to press together, to tighten, or to clamp. It is used for physical actions that bring objects into close contact or increase grip, as well as for figurative closings or squeezes. In everyday speech, serrer can describe tightening a screw, fastening a nut, or securing a belt, as well as less literal acts such as constricting feelings or spaces.

Common uses cover technical, mechanical, and expressive contexts. In a mechanical sense, one serrer un boulon means to tighten a bolt, while serrer les vis refers to clamping screws. Figuratively, it can convey force or constraint, for example the expression avoir le cœur qui se serre describes the sensation of a tightened or weighty heart; se serrer la main means to shake hands; and se serrer dans les bras expresses a tight embrace.

Conjugation and forms follow the standard pattern of -er verbs in French. In the present tense: je serre, tu serres, il serre, nous serrons, vous serrez, ils serrent. The past participle is serré, used with être or avoir depending on the construction. The verb also appears in reflexive forms for social or physical closings, such as se serrer.

Related terms include the noun serrage, which denotes the act or result of tightening or clamping, and the noun serrure, meaning a lock or locking mechanism. The verb is of French origin and shares cognates with other Romance languages that express tightening or gripping.

Serrer can also function as a surname in French-speaking regions, where it may appear in compound forms or as part of place-derived names.