What is the meaning of clutches?

noun

• The act of grasping.
  • usage: "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"
  • synonyms: clasp, clench, clutch, grasp, grip, hold
• A tense critical situation.
  • usage: "he is a good man in the clutch"
  • synonyms: clutch
• A number of birds hatched at the same time.
  • synonyms: clutch
• A collection of things or persons to be handled together.
  • synonyms: batch, clutch
• A woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand.
  • synonyms: clutch bag, clutch
• A pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism.
  • usage: "he smoothely released the clutch with one foot and stepped on the gas with the other"
  • synonyms: clutch, clutch pedal
• A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism.
  • usage: "this year's model has an improved clutch"
  • synonyms: clutch
• The act of grasping.
  • usage: "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"
  • synonyms: clasp, clench, clutch, grasp, grip, hold

verb

• Take hold of; grab.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: seize, prehend, clutch
• Hold firmly, usually with one's hands.
  • usage: "She clutched my arm when she got scared"
  • synonyms: cling to, hold close, hold tight, clutch
• Affect.
  • usage: "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease"
  • synonyms: seize, clutch, get hold of