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¹clutch

verb \ˈkləch\

: to hold onto (someone or something) tightly with your hand

: to try to hold onto someone or something by reaching with your hand

Full Definition of CLUTCH

transitive verb

: to grasp or hold with or as if with the hand or claws usually strongly, tightly, or suddenly

obsolete : clench

intransitive verb

: to seek to grasp and hold <clutched at her hand>

: to operate an automobile clutch

See clutch defined for English-language learners

See clutch defined for kids

Origin of CLUTCH

Middle English clucchen, from Old English clyccan

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CLUTCH

Synonyms: clench, cling (to), hold, grip

Synonym Discussion of CLUTCH

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand. take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control <take some salad from the bowl>. seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible <seized the suspect>. grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession <grasp the handle and pull>. clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding <clutching her purse>. snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize <snatched a doughnut and ran>. grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch <grabbed roughly by the arm>.

Rhymes with CLUTCH

crutch, cutch, dutch, Dutch, grutch, hutch, much, scutch, smutch, such, touch

²clutch

noun

Definition of CLUTCH

a : the claws or a hand in the act of grasping or seizing firmly

b : an often cruel or unrelenting control, power, or possession <the fell clutch of circumstance — W. E. Henley>

c : the act of grasping, holding, or restraining

a : a coupling used to connect and disconnect a driving and a driven part (as an engine and a transmission) of a mechanism

b : a lever (as a pedal) operating such a clutch

: a tight or critical situation : pinch <come through in the clutch>

: clutch bag

First Known Use of CLUTCH

13th century

Other Automotive Terms

articulated, block, choke, diesel, neutral, transmission

³clutch

adjective

: happening during a very important or critical time especially in a sports competition

: able to perform well in a very important or critical situation especially in a sports competition

Full Definition of CLUTCH

: made or done in a crucial situation <a clutch hit>

: successful in a crucial situation <a clutch pitcher>

See clutch defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CLUTCH

1929

⁴clutch

noun

Definition of CLUTCH

: a nest of eggs or a brood of chicks

: group, bunch

Origin of CLUTCH

alteration of dialect English cletch hatching, brood

First Known Use: 1721

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

CLUTCH[2] Defined for Kids

¹clutch

verb \ˈkləch\

clutchedclutch·ing

Definition of CLUTCH for Kids

: to grasp or hold tightly with or as if with the hands or claws

: to make a grab <He began clutching at the falling child.>

²clutch

noun

Definition of CLUTCH for Kids

: control or power someone has over someone else —usually used in pl. <“… he has our compatriots in his clutches.” — Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator>

: a coupling for connecting and disconnecting a driving and a driven part in machinery

: a lever or pedal operating a clutch