What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Flock vs Clutch - What's the difference?

flock | clutch |

As nouns the difference between flock and clutch

is that flock is a large number of birds, especially those gathered together for the purpose of migration while clutch is the claw of a predatory animal or bird.

As verbs the difference between flock and clutch

is that flock is to congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers while clutch is to seize, as though with claws.

As an adjective clutch is

performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.

flock

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • A large number of birds, especially those gathered together for the purpose of migration.
  • A large number of animals, especially sheep or goats kept together.
  • Those served by a particular pastor or shepherd.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1995 , author=Green Key Books , title=God's Word to the Nations (John 10:16) citation , passage=I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. }}
  • * Tennyson
    • As half amazed, half frighted all his flock .
  • A large number of people.
  • * Bible, 2 Macc. xiv. 14
    • The heathen came to Nicanor by flocks .
    Synonyms
    * congregation, bunch, gaggle, horde, host, legion, litter, nest, rabble, swarm, throng, wake

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers.
    • People flocked to the cinema to see the new film.
  • * Dryden
    • Friends daily flock .
  • (obsolete) To flock to; to crowd.
  • * 1609 , Taylor
    • Good fellows, trooping, flocked me so.
  • To treat a pool with chemicals to remove suspended particles.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Coarse tufts of wool or cotton used in bedding
  • A lock of wool or hair.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point [pommel].
  • Very fine sifted woollen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, formerly used as a coating for wallpaper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fibre used for a similar purpose.
  • *
  • *:There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock -paper on the walls.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To coat a surface with dense fibers or particles.

    • clutch

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) clucchen, clicchen, cluchen, clechen, cleken, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) , of uncertain origin, with the form probably assimilated to the verb. Alternative etymology derives Old English clyccan from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l) (dialectal) * (l), (l), (l), (l) (dialectal) * (l) (obsolete)

    Verb

    (es)
  • To seize, as though with claws.
    • to clutch power
  • * Collier
    • A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole globe at one intellectual grasp.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Is this a dagger which I see before me ? / Come, let me clutch thee.
  • To grip or grasp tightly.
    • She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Not that I have the power to clutch my hand.

    Noun

    (es)
  • The claw of a predatory animal or bird.
  • (by extension) A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil.
  • * Cowper
    • the clutch of poverty
  • * Carlyle
    • an expiring clutch at popularity
  • * Bishop Stillingfleet
    • I must have little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant.
  • * 1919 ,
    • You scold yourself; you know it is only your nerves—and yet, and yet... In a little while it is impossible to resist the terror that seizes you, and you are helpless in the clutch of an unseen horror.
  • A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used between engine and gearbox in a car.
  • The pedal in a car that disengages power transmission.
  • Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
  • A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle.
  • * 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4
    • The clutch which I had made to save myself in falling had torn away this chin-band and let the lower jaw drop on the breast; but little else was disturbed, and there was Colonel John Mohune resting as he had been laid out a century ago.
  • (US) An important or critical situation.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
    • Synonyms
    * clutch bag (small handbag)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (US) Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.
  • *
  • * 2009 , Scott Trocchia, The 2006 Yankees: The Frustration of a Nation, A Fan's Perspective , page 21:
    • I start with his most obvious characteristic: he was clutch'. He is Mr. '''Clutch'''. In the last chapter I mentioned that Bernie Williams was '''clutch''', which was a valid assessment, but nobody on the Yankees was as ' clutch as Jeter was.
  • *

    • Etymology 2

    Variant form of (cletch), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs.
  • A group or bunch (of people or things).
  • * 2012 , The Economist, 22nd Sep., Innovation in Government: Britain's Local Labs
    • No longer would Britons routinely blame the national government when things went wrong. Instead they would demand action from a new clutch of elected mayors, police commissioners and the like.

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

    (nb-noun-m1)
  • a (l) (device between engine and gearbox )
  • clutch pedal
    • trå in clutchen - step on the clutch

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l)

    References

    * ----