CLUTCHING

The act of grasping

Example: "He released his clasp on my arm"

A tense critical situation

Example: "He is a good man in the clutch"

A number of birds hatched at the same time

A collection of things or persons to be handled together

A woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand

A pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism

Example: "He smoothly released the clutch with one foot and stepped on the gas with the other"

A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism

Example: "This year's model has an improved clutch"