clutch

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”

A tense critical situation.

“he is a good man in the clutch”

A collection of things or persons to be handled together.

The act of grasping.

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

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

“this year's model has an improved clutch”

A number of birds hatched at the same time.

Hold firmly, usually with one's hands.

“She clutched my arm when she got scared”

Take hold of; grab.

“She clutched her purse”

Affect.