n. 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"

n. a coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism; "this year's model has an improved clutch"

n. 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"

n. a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand

n. a number of birds hatched at the same time

n. a tense critical situation; "he is a good man in the clutch"

v. affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease"