1. (

• clasp ,
• clench ,
• clutch ,
• clutches ,
• grasp ,
• grip ,
• hold

) 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" ;

2. (

• clutch

) a tense critical situation; "he is a good man in the clutch" ;

3. (

• clutch ,

) a number of birds hatched at the same time ;

4. (

• batch ,
• clutch

) a collection of things or persons to be handled together ;

5. (

• clutch_bag ,
• clutch ,

) a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand ;

6. (

• clutch ,
• clutch_pedal

) 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" ;

7. (

• clutch

) a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism; "this year's model has an improved clutch" ;

1. (

• seize ,
• prehend ,
• clutch

) 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" ;

2. (

• cling_to ,
• hold_close ,
• hold_tight ,
• clutch ,

) hold firmly, usually with one's hands; "She clutched my arm when she got scared" ;

3. (

• seize ,
• clutch ,
• get_hold_of

) affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" ;