'Clutch' definitions:

Definition of 'clutch'

(from WordNet)
noun
The act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing" [syn: clasp, clench, clutch, clutches, grasp, grip, hold]
noun
A tense critical situation; "he is a good man in the clutch"
noun
A number of birds hatched at the same time
noun
A collection of things or persons to be handled together [syn: batch, clutch]
noun
A woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand [syn: clutch bag, clutch]
noun
A pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism; "he smoothely released the clutch with one foot and stepped on the gas with the other" [syn: clutch, clutch pedal]
noun
A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism; "this year's model has an improved clutch"
verb
Take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often seize small mammals" [syn: seize, prehend, clutch]
verb
Hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm when she got scared" [syn: cling to, hold close, hold tight, clutch]
verb
Affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" [syn: seize, clutch, get hold of]

Definition of 'Clutch'

From: GCIDE
  • Clutch \Clutch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clutched (kl[u^]cht); p. pr. & vb. n. Clutching.] [OE. clucchen. See Clutch, n.]
  • 1. To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; -- often figuratively; as, to clutch power. [1913 Webster]
  • A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole globe at one intellectual grasp. --Collier. [1913 Webster]
  • Is this a dagger which I see before me . . . ? Come, let me clutch thee. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To close tightly; to clinch. [1913 Webster]
  • Not that I have the power to clutch my hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Clutch'

From: GCIDE
  • Clutch \Clutch\ (kl[u^]ch; 224), n. [OE. cloche, cloke, claw, Scot. clook, cleuck, also OE. cleche claw, clechen, cleken, to seize; cf. AS. gel[ae]ccan (where ge- is a prefix) to seize. Cf. Latch a catch.]
  • 1. A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp. "The clutch of poverty." --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
  • An expiring clutch at popularity. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]
  • But Age, with his stealing steps, Hath clawed me in his clutch. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. pl. The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; -- often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary. [1913 Webster]
  • I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant. --Bp. Stillingfleet. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Mach.) A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Zool.) The nest complement of eggs of a bird. [1913 Webster]
  • Bayonet clutch (Mach.), a clutch in which connection is made by means of bayonets attached to arms sliding on a feathered shaft. The bayonets slide through holes in a crosshead fastened on the shaft. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Clutch'

From: GCIDE
  • Clutch \Clutch\, v. i.
  • 1. To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; -- often followed by at. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. to become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam. [PJC]

Synonyms of 'clutch'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Clutch'