Link Centre Dictionary

claw

UK/klɔ/ US/klɑ/ fairly common
noun (4) verb (4)

noun

1.

sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

2.

a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something

Synonyms
3.

a structure like a pincer on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods

Synonyms
4.

a bird''s foot that has claws

verb

1.

move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging

  • “They clawed their way to the top of the mountain”
2.

clutch as if in panic

  • “She clawed the doorknob”
3.

scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails

4.

attack as if with claws

  • “The politician clawed his rival”

Origin

From Middle English clawen, from a combination of Old English clawan/clāwan (a remodelling of *clīeġan, from Proto-West Germanic *klauwjan, from Proto-Germanic *klawjaną) and Old English clawian (from Proto-West Germanic *klawēn).

Phrases

  • bear claw
  • cat's claw
  • claw away
  • claw back
  • claw clip
  • claw crane
  • claw frog
  • claw hammer
  • claw machine
  • claw me, claw thee
  • claw off
  • claw-hammer coat

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.