Crutch vs. Clutch — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 22, 2024
Crutches are supportive devices used to aid mobility, typically following an injury, while a clutch is a mechanical device in vehicles for engaging power transmission.
Difference Between Crutch and Clutch
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Crutches are tools designed to assist individuals with walking when one of their legs is injured or weak. They transfer weight from the legs to the upper body, helping to reduce the load on a damaged limb. On the other hand, a clutch is part of a vehicle's drivetrain used to engage and disengage the engine from the gearbox, allowing the driver to change gears smoothly.
Crutches come in various types, such as underarm, forearm, and platform, each designed to suit different needs and comfort preferences. Whereas, clutches are found in manual transmission vehicles and come in different types like friction clutches, hydraulic clutches, and electromagnetic clutches, each suitable for specific applications and performance requirements.
Crutches require physical strength and coordination to use effectively, as they involve supporting the body's weight with the arms and shoulders. Conversely, operating a clutch involves coordinating the clutch pedal with gear shifting and throttle control to achieve smooth vehicle operation.
In terms of maintenance, crutches may need occasional adjustments or replacement of parts like tips or grips to ensure safety and comfort. Meanwhile, clutches undergo wear and tear over time and may require adjustments, repairs, or replacements to maintain optimal vehicle performance.
Crutches are typically made of lightweight materials like aluminum or carbon fiber to make them easy to carry and maneuver. In contrast, clutches are made of durable materials like steel and require precise engineering to withstand the forces of engaging and disengaging the engine.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Aids in mobility
Engages/disengages power transmission
Types
Underarm, forearm, platform
Friction, hydraulic, electromagnetic
Usage Skill
Requires physical strength and balance
Requires coordination of pedal and gear
Maintenance Needs
Adjustments, part replacement
Wear and tear repairs, replacements
Material
Aluminum, carbon fiber
Steel, other durable materials
Compare with Definitions
Crutch
Anything that serves as a temporary and often inappropriate support.
She used alcohol as a crutch to cope with stress.
Clutch
A mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle engine from its transmission system.
He learned to operate the clutch smoothly after a few driving lessons.
Crutch
A support typically used under the armpit to assist with walking.
After breaking his leg, he used crutches to move around.
Clutch
A critical situation where control is required.
The player’s performance in the clutch moments won the game.
Crutch
An essential or stabilizing support.
Good customer service is a crutch for any business's success.
Clutch
The act of clutching; a tight grasp.
He felt the clutch of the child's hand in his.
Crutch
A means of support.
Financial aid was a crutch for the startup in its early days.
Clutch
To grasp or hold tightly.
She clutched the handrail during the turbulent flight.
Crutch
A prop used for support.
He used a crutch to hold up the sagging shelf until it could be fixed.
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft (driving shaft) to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts).
Crutch
A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper body. It is often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities.
Clutch
To grasp and hold tightly
A child clutching a blanket.
Crutch
A support used by an injured or disabled person, often in pairs, as an aid to walking, having a vertical shaft that is sometimes forked, a horizontal grip for the hand, and a crosspiece that is positioned under the armpit or a cuff that wraps around the forearm.
Clutch
To seize; snatch
Clutched the banana from my hand.
Crutch
Something on which one depends, often excessively
A mnemonic crutch.
Clutch
To attempt to grasp or seize
Clutch at a life raft.
Crutch
A forked support or part.
Clutch
To engage or disengage a motor vehicle's clutch.
Crutch
A forked leg rest on a sidesaddle.
Clutch
To hatch (chicks).
Crutch
(Archaic)The crotch of a person or animal.
Clutch
A hand, claw, talon, or paw in the act of grasping.
Crutch
To move using a crutch or crutches.
Clutch
A tight grasp.
Crutch
To support on a crutch or crutches.
Clutch
Often clutches Control or power
Caught in the clutches of sin.
Crutch
A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.
He walked on crutches for a month until the cast was removed from his leg.
Clutch
A device for gripping and holding.
Crutch
Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop
Alcohol became a crutch to help him through the long nights; eventually it killed him.
Clutch
Any of various devices for engaging and disengaging two working parts of a shaft or of a shaft and a driving mechanism.
Crutch
A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.
Clutch
The apparatus, such as a lever or pedal, that activates one of these devices.
Crutch
A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
Clutch
A tense, critical situation
Came through in the clutch.
Crutch
(nautical) A knee, or piece of knee timber.
Clutch
A small, strapless purse that is carried in the hand.
Crutch
(nautical) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.
Clutch
The complete set of eggs produced or incubated at one time.
Crutch
(heraldry) A type of cross formed from two C-shapes joined back to back.
Clutch
A brood of chickens.
Crutch
(transitive) To support on crutches; to prop up.
Clutch
A group; a bunch.
Crutch
(intransitive) To move on crutches.
Clutch
Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation
Won the championship by sinking a clutch putt.
Crutch
(transitive) To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.
Clutch
Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations
The coach relied on her clutch pitcher.
Crutch
To stir with a crutch.
Clutch
To seize, as though with claws.
To clutch power
Crutch
A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other.
Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone.
Clutch
To grip or grasp tightly.
She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.
Crutch
A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
Clutch
(video games) To win in a 1vX (one versus X) situation.
Crutch
A knee, or piece of knee timber
Clutch
To unexpectedly or luckily succeed in a difficult activity.
Crutch
To support on crutches; to prop up.
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse.
Clutch
(transitive) To hatch.
Crutch
A wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
Clutch
The claw of a predatory animal or bird.
Crutch
Anything that serves as an expedient;
He uses drugs as a psychological crutch
Clutch
(by extension) A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil.
Clutch
A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used to separate the engine and gearbox in a car.
Clutch
The pedal in a car that disengages power and torque transmission from the engine (through the drivetrain) to the drive wheels.
Clutch
Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
Clutch
A fastener that attaches to the back of a tack pin to secure an accessory to clothing. Clutch (pin fastener).}}
Clutch
A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle.
Clutch
A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs.
Clutch
A group or bunch (of people or things).
Clutch
(US) An important or critical situation.
Clutch
A difficult maneuver
Clutch
Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.
Clutch
A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp.
An expiring clutch at popularity.
But Age, with his stealing steps,Hath clawed me in his clutch.
Clutch
The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; - often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary.
I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant.
Clutch
A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.
Clutch
Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
Clutch
The nest complement of eggs of a bird.
Clutch
To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; - often figuratively; as, to clutch power.
A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole globe at one intellectual grasp.
Is this a dagger which I see before me . . . ?Come, let me clutch thee.
Clutch
To close tightly; to clinch.
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand.
Clutch
To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; - often followed by at.
Clutch
To become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam.
Clutch
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
Clutch
A tense critical situation;
He is a good man in the clutch
Clutch
A number of birds hatched at the same time
Clutch
A collection of things or persons to be handled together
Clutch
A pedal that operates a clutch
Clutch
A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism
Clutch
Take hold of; grab;
The salesclerk 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
Clutch
Hold firmly, usually with one's hands;
She clutched my arm when she got scared
Clutch
Affect;
Fear seized the prisoners
The patient was seized with unberable pains
He was seized with a dreadful disease
Common Curiosities
Can crutches be used for long-term disabilities?
Yes, crutches can be adapted for long-term use, depending on the individual’s needs and type of disability.
How does a clutch function in a car?
A clutch allows the driver to smoothly engage and disengage the engine from the transmission system to change gears.
What materials are crutches made from?
Most crutches are made from materials like aluminum or carbon fiber for durability and lightness.
What is the difference between a friction and a hydraulic clutch?
A friction clutch uses friction between plates to transmit power, whereas a hydraulic clutch uses hydraulic fluid to transfer pressure.
Are there different sizes of crutches?
Yes, crutches come in various sizes to accommodate different heights and weights of users.
How do you maintain crutches?
Regularly check and replace worn out parts like the rubber tips and ensure they are adjusted to the correct height.
What are common problems with vehicle clutches?
Common issues include slipping, sticking, or a hard clutch pedal.
Can a clutch be repaired, or does it need to be replaced?
Depending on the problem, a clutch can often be repaired, but sometimes it may need to be replaced.
What are crutches used for?
Crutches are used to aid mobility when an individual has a leg injury or a disability that makes walking difficult.
Why is it important to learn to use a clutch in a car?
Mastery of the clutch is essential for smooth driving and preventing damage to the vehicle's transmission.
Are there accessories available to make using crutches easier?
Yes, accessories like padded covers, forearm cuffs, and crutch bags can enhance comfort and functionality.
Is it difficult to learn to walk with crutches?
Initially, it can be challenging, but with practice, it becomes easier.
How can improper use of crutches lead to further injury?
Improper use can lead to additional strain on the body, potentially causing further injury or discomfort.
What does it mean when a clutch "slips"?
A slipping clutch fails to engage the gears properly, causing a loss of acceleration and a rise in engine revs.
What should someone consider when choosing a clutch for their vehicle?
Consider factors like the type of vehicle, driving habits, and performance needs.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
