Clutch - Definition

n 1: 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]
2: a tense critical situation; "he is a good man in the clutch"
3: a number of birds hatched at the same time
4: a collection of things or persons to be handled together
[syn: batch, clutch]
5: a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand [syn:
clutch bag, clutch]
6: 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]
7: a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven
parts of a driving mechanism; "this year's model has an
improved clutch"
v 1: 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]
2: hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm
when she got scared" [syn: cling to, hold close, hold
tight, clutch]
3: 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]