lurch
1 of 5verb (1)
ˈlərch 
lurched; lurching; lurches
intransitive verb
1
: to move with a lurch
suddenly lurched forward
also : stagger
has lurched from crisis to crisis 
Jere Longman
Jere Longman 2
: to roll or tip abruptly : pitch
lurch
2 of 5noun (1)
1
: an abrupt jerking, swaying, or tipping movement
the car moved forward with a lurch
also : stagger sense 2
2
: a sudden roll of a ship to one side
lurch
3 of 5noun (2)
: a decisive defeat in which an opponent wins a game by more than double the defeated player's score especially in cribbage
lurch
4 of 5verb (2)
lurched; lurching; lurches
transitive verb
1
: to defeat by a lurch (as in cribbage)
2
archaic : to leave in the lurch
lurch
5 of 5verb (3)
lurched; lurching; lurches
intransitive verb
dialectal, chiefly England : to loiter about a place furtively : prowl
transitive verb
1
archaic : cheat
2
obsolete : steal
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- careen
- pitch
- rock
- roll
- seesaw
- sway
- toss
- wobble
- wabble
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
origin unknown
Noun (2) and Verb (2)
Middle French lourche, adjective, defeated by a lurch, deceived
Verb (3)
Middle English lorchen, probably alteration of lurken to lurk
First Known Use
Verb (1)
circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun (1)
1805, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun (2)
1598, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
circa 1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb (3)
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing lurch
Kids Definition
lurch 1 of 2
noun
ˈlərch
: a sudden swaying, tipping, or jerking movement
lurch
2 of 2verb
lurched; lurching
: to move with a sudden swaying, tipping, or jerking motion The boat lurched in rough seas.
in the lurch
adjective
as in unprotected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unprotected
- susceptible
- vulnerable
- helpless
- undefended
- exposed
- unresistant
- defenseless
- unguarded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resistant
- protected
- covered
- armed
- secure
- safe
- invulnerable
- sheltered
- fortified
- immune
- screened
- guarded
- invincible
- shielded
- armored
- impenetrable
- strong
- defensible
- impregnable
- omnipotent
- unbeatable
- unconquerable
- unassailable
- almighty