clutch
1 of 4verb
ˈkləch 
clutched; clutching; clutches
transitive verb
1
: to grasp or hold with or as if with the hand or claws usually strongly, tightly, or suddenly
He clutched his chest and appeared to be in pain.
2
obsolete : clench
intransitive verb
1
: to seek to grasp and hold
clutched at her hand
2
: to operate an automobile clutch (see clutch entry 2 sense 2a)
clutch
2 of 4noun (1)
1
a
: the claws or a hand in the act of grasping or seizing firmly
a rabbit in the clutch of a hawk
b
: an often cruel or unrelenting control, power, or possession
the fell clutch of circumstance
W. E. Henley
W. E. Henley c
: the act of grasping, holding, or restraining
2
a
: a coupling used to connect and disconnect a driving and a driven part (such as an engine and a transmission) of a mechanism
b
: a lever (such as a pedal) operating such a clutch
Depress the clutch to change gears.
3
: a tight or critical situation : pinch
come through in the clutch
4
: clutch bag
clutch
3 of 4adjective
1
: made or done in a crucial situation
a clutch hit
2
: successful in a crucial situation
a clutch pitcher
a clutch hitter
clutch
4 of 4noun (2)
1
: a nest of eggs or a brood of chicks
2
: group, bunch
talking with a clutch of her friends
a clutch of photographs
a clutch of reporters
Synonyms
Verb
- clench
- cling (to)
- grip
- hold
Noun (1)
- boiling point
- breaking point
- conjuncture
- crisis
- crossroad(s)
- crunch
- crunch time
- Dunkirk
- emergency
- exigency
- extremity
- flash point
- head
- juncture
- tinderbox
- zero hour
Noun (2)
- array
- assemblage
- band
- bank
- batch
- battery
- block
- bunch
- clot
- clump
- cluster
- collection
- constellation
- group
- grouping
- huddle
- knot
- lot
- muster
- package
- parcel
- passel
- set
- suite
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb I had to clutch the counter to keep from falling. The child clutched her mother's hand firmly. He had a book clutched in his hand. Adjective She scored a clutch basket.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun (1)
Middle English clucchen, from Old English clyccan
Noun (2)
alteration of dialect English cletch hatching, brood
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing clutch
Kids Definition
clutch 1 of 3
verb
ˈkləch
clutched; clutching
1
: to grasp or hold tightly with or as if with the hands or claws
2
: to make a grab
He began clutching at the falling child.
clutch
2 of 3noun
1
: control or power someone has over someone else —usually used in pl.
"… he has our compatriots in his clutches." Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator
Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator2
: a coupling for connecting and disconnecting a driving and a driven part in machinery
3
: a lever or pedal operating a clutch
clutch
3 of 3noun
1
: a group of eggs that is laid by a bird at one time
2
: a small group of things or people
clutching
verb
as in clenching
to have or keep in one's hands he clutched the eggs carefully so he wouldn't drop them Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- clenching
- gripping
- holding
- grabbing
- carrying
- cradling
- clasping
- snatching
- taking
- hugging
- grasping
- bagging
- trapping
- seizing
- clinging (to)
- pawing
- snaring
- capturing
- grappling
- nabbing
- handling
- holding on to
- corralling
- landing
- hanging on to
- nailing
- hooking
- catching
- fingering
- feeling
- bearing
- collaring
- embracing
- latching (on or onto)
- snapping (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- handing
- giving
- dropping
- unclasping
- delivering
- releasing
- yielding
- relinquishing
- rendering
- ceding
- unhanding
- handing out
- handing over
- turning over
- giving up