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clutching - 4 dictionary results

clutch

1[kluhch]
–verb (used with object)
1. to seize with or as with the hands or claws; snatch: The bird swooped down and clutched its prey with its claws.
2. to grip or hold tightly or firmly: She clutched the child's hand as they crossed the street.
3. Slang. to spellbind; grip a person's emotions, attention, or interest: Garbo movies really clutch me.
–verb (used without object)
4. to try to seize or grasp (usually fol. by at): He clutched at the fleeing child. She clutched at the opportunity.
5. Slang. to become tense with fright; panic (sometimes fol. by up): I clutched up on the math exam.
6. to operate the clutch in a vehicle.
–noun
7. the hand, claw, etc., when grasping.
8. Usually, clutches. power of disposal or control; mastery: She fell into the clutches of the enemy.
9. the act of clutching; a snatch or grasp.
10. a tight grip or hold.
11. a device for gripping something.
12. Automotive, Machinery.
a. a mechanism for readily engaging or disengaging a shaft with or from another shaft or rotating part. Compare coupling (def. 2a).
b. a control, as a pedal, for operating this mechanism.
13. Sports. an extremely important or crucial moment of a game: He was famous for his coolness in pitching in the clutch.
14. any critical position or situation; emergency: She kept complete control in the clutch.
15. Also called clutch bag, clutch purse. a woman's small purse that can be carried in the hand and usually has no handle or strap.
–adjective
16. done or accomplished in a critical situation: a clutch shot that won the basketball game.
17. dependable in crucial situations: a clutch player.
18. (of a coat) without fasteners; held closed in front by one's hand or arm.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME clucchen, var. of clicchen, OE clyccan to clench


clutch⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
clutchy, adjective


1. See catch. 2. clench, squeeze, hug.

clutch

2[kluhch]
–noun
1. a hatch of eggs; the number of eggs produced or incubated at one time.
2. a brood of chickens.
3. a number of similar individuals: a clutch of books; a whole clutch of dancers.
–verb (used with object)
4. to hatch (chickens).

Origin:
1715–25; var. of cletch (now dial.); akin to Scots cleck to hatch < ON klekja to hatch
clutch 1   (klŭch)   
v.   clutched, clutch·ing, clutch·es

v.   tr.
  1. To grasp and hold tightly.
  2. To seize; snatch.
v.   intr.
  1. To attempt to grasp or seize: clutch at a life raft.
  2. To engage or disengage a motor vehicle's clutch.
n.  
  1. A hand, claw, talon, or paw in the act of grasping.
  2. A tight grasp.
  3. Control or power. Often used in the plural: caught in the clutches of sin.
  4. A device for gripping and holding.
    1. Any of various devices for engaging and disengaging two working parts of a shaft or of a shaft and a driving mechanism.
    2. The apparatus, such as a lever or pedal, that activates one of these devices.
  5. A tense, critical situation: came through in the clutch.
  6. A clutch bag.
adj.   Informal
  1. Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation: won the championship by sinking a clutch putt.
  2. Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations: The coach relied on her clutch pitcher.

[Middle English clucchen, from Old English clyccan.]
clutch 2   (klŭch)   
n.  
  1. The complete set of eggs produced or incubated at one time.
  2. A brood of chickens.
  3. A group; a bunch.
tr.v.   clutched, clutch·ing, clutch·es
To hatch (chicks).

[Variant of dialectal cletch; akin to Middle English clekken, to hatch, from Old Norse klekja.]
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