*clutch*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clutched p. pr. & vb. n. Clutching. ] [ OE. clucchen. See Clutch, n. ] 1. To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; -- often figuratively; as, to clutch power. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole globe at one intellectual grasp. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is this a dagger which I see before me . . . ?
Come, let me clutch thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To close tightly; to clinch. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not that I have the power to clutch my hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; -- often followed by at. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. to become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam. [ PJC ]

n. 1. the act of grasping.
Syn. -- clasp, clench, clutch, grasp, grip, hold. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. control; power; -- used in the phrase in one's clutches. Same as clutch{ 2 }. [ PJC ]

n. (Baseball) a batter who hits safely more frequently when men are on base or the team is behind in the score. [ PJC ]

Clutching at the phantoms of the stock market. Bankroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Mach.) A friction clutch with conical bearing surfaces. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. & t. to disengage the clutch of a car. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Engin.) A friction clutch in which the gripping surfaces are disks or more or less resemble disks. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a friction clutch that will slip when the torque is too great
Syn. -- slip friction clutch. [ WordNet 1.5 ]