Lurch Definition

lûrch
lurched, lurches, lurching
verb
lurched, lurches, lurching
To prevent (a person) from getting his fair share of something.
Webster's New World
To make an abrupt sudden movement.
The train lurched and moved away from the platform.
American Heritage
To roll, pitch, or sway suddenly forward or to one side.
Webster's New World
To stagger.
Webster's New World
To get by cheating, robbing, tricking, etc.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
lurches
A staggering or tottering movement or gait.
American Heritage
A lurching movement; sudden rolling, pitching, etc.
Webster's New World
The act of lurching.
Webster's New World
The losing position of a cribbage player who has not passed the halfway mark at the end of the game.
American Heritage
A situation in certain card games, in which the winner has more than double the score of the loser.
Webster's New World
idiom
in the lurch
  • In a difficult or embarrassing position.
American Heritage
lie at (<i>or</i> on) the lurch
  • to lie in wait
Webster's New World
leave someone in the lurch
  • to leave someone in a difficult situation; leave someone in trouble and needing help
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Lurch

Noun

Singular:
lurch
Plural:
lurches

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Lurch

Origin of Lurch

  • Perhaps back-formation from Middle English lurching a total victory at lorche, a kind of game perhaps akin to lurken to lurk lurk

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • French lourche (“deceived, embarrassed; also the name of a game").

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin lurcare.

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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