clutch

Meaning

Verb

1. To seize, as though with claws.
2. To grip or grasp tightly.
3. To win despite being the only remaining player on one's team, against several opponents.
4. (broadly) To unexpectedly or luckily succeed in a difficult activity.

Noun

1. The claw of a predatory animal or bird.
2. (broadly) A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil.
3. A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used to separate the engine and gearbox in a car.
4. The pedal in a car that disengages power and torque transmission from the engine (through the drivetrain) to the drive wheels.
5. Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
6. A fastener that attaches to the back of a tack pin to secure an accessory to clothing. (See Clutch (pin fastener).)
7. A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle.
8. (US) An important or critical situation.
9. A difficult maneuver.

Adj

Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.

Noun

1. (collective) A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs; a sitting.
2. (collective) A group or bunch (of people or things).

Synonyms

grasp

seize

grip

grab

hold

catch

claw

clasp

snatch

grapple

clench

cling

clutches

capture

prehend

take

pinch

nab

brood

coupling

cling to

clamp

🗜️

hold tight

grasp tightly

clutch bag

press

litter

batch

group

get hold of

clinch

body

band

hold close

battery

🔋

coupler

set

constrictor

score

confiscate

bunch

nip

squeeze

clutch pedal

gripe

handbag

👜

gathering

stick

block

chase

Translations

embrayage

Kupplung

frizione

embrague

afferrare

saisir

embreagem

grijpen

coger

agarrar

συμπλέκτης

agripper

koppeling

avvinghiare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/klʌt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: clucchen

Inherited from Old English: clyċċan

Cognate with Swedish: klyka

Cognate with Scots: cleuk

Cognate with Old English: clyċċan

Cognate with Irish: glac

In summary

From Middle English clucchen, clicchen, cluchen, clechen, cleken, from Old English clyċċan (“to clutch, clench”), from Proto-West Germanic *klukkjan, from Proto-Germanic *klukjaną, from Proto-Germanic *klu- (“to ball up, conglomerate, amass”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to ball up; lump, mass”).
Cognate with Swedish klyka (“clamp, fork, branch”). The noun is from Middle English cleche, cloche, cloke ("claw, talon, hand"; compare Scots cleuk, cluke, cluik (“claw, talon”)), of uncertain origin, with the form probably assimilated to the verb.
Alternative etymology derives Old English clyċċan from Proto-Germanic *klēk- (“claw, hand”), from Proto-Indo-European *glēk-, *ǵlēḱ- (“claw, hand; to clutch, snatch”). If so, then cognate with Irish glac (“hand”).