- lurch
- lurch1 [lə:tʃ US lə:rtʃ] v1.) to walk or move suddenly in an uncontrolled or unsteady waylurch forward/to/towards/into etc▪ Sam hit the gas and the car lurched forward.▪ He lurched to his feet.2.) your heart/stomach lurchesused to say that your heart or stomach seems to move suddenly because you feel shocked, frightened etc▪ Virginia's heart lurched painfully in her chest.3.) lurch from one crisis/extreme etc to another [i]also lurch from crisis to crisisto seem to have no plan and no control over what you are doing▪ The industry lurches from crisis to crisis.lurch 2lurch2 n[Sense: 1; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Origin unknown.][Sense: 2; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: lurch 'defeat in the card game cribbage' (16-21 centuries), perhaps from early French lourche a game similar to backgammon]1.) a sudden movement▪ The train gave a violent lurch.2.) leave sb in the lurchto leave someone at a time when you should stay and help them
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.