clutch in WordNet English dictionary

1. a collection of things or persons to be handled together
   batch  clutch 
   
2. 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"
   clasp  clench  clutch  clutches  grasp  grip  hold 
   
3. a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism
   "this year's model has an improved clutch"
   clutch 
   
4. 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"
   clutch  clutch pedal 
   
5. a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand
   clutch bag  clutch 
   
6. a number of birds hatched at the same time
   clutch 
   
7. a tense critical situation
   "he is a good man in the clutch"
   clutch 
   

1. hold firmly, usually with one's hands
   "She clutched my arm when she got scared"
   cling to  hold close  hold tight  clutch 
   
2. affect
   "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease"
   seize  clutch  get hold of 
   
3. 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"
   seize  prehend  clutch