English Dictionary
Definition of “lurch”
1lurch1 (lɜːtʃ
)
Definitions
verb (intr)
- to lean or pitch suddenly to one side
- to stagger or sway
noun
- the act or an instance of lurching
Alternative Forms
ˈlurching adjective Word Origin
C19: origin unknown
2lurch2 (lɜːtʃ)
Definitions
noun
- See leave someone in the lurch
- cribbage the state of a losing player with less than 30 points at the end of a game (esp in the phrase in the lurch)
Word Origin
C16: from French lourche a game similar to backgammon, apparently from lourche (adj) deceived, probably of Germanic origin
3lurch3 (lɜːtʃ)
Definitions
verb
- (intr) archaic or dialect to prowl or steal about suspiciously
Word Origin
C15: perhaps a variant of lurk
Usage examples
Felt my mood lurch from complete despair to tearful relief & gratitude.
Bénédicte Newland and Pascale Smets, AND GOD CREATED THE AU PAIR (2005)Within a day, it received 18,000 e-mails that complained about being left in the lurch.
India Today (1998)I'm tempted to guess that the United States, like Israel, will henceforth lurch between two political extremes.
Globe and Mail (2003)They feel they have been left in the lurch at a critical point of a new campaign.
Sun, News of the World (2004)In reality, Labour's ` lurch to the left", for good or ill, had little to do with changes in party membership.
Pimlott, Ben, Frustrate Their Knavish Tricks (1994)
