claw Definition
claw (klô)
noun
- a sharp, hooked or curved horny structure, or nail, on the foot of a bird and of many reptiles and mammals
- a foot with such structures at its end
- the pincers, or chela, of a lobster, crab, scorpion, etc., or on the limb of certain insects
- anything resembling or regarded as a claw the claw of a hammer
Etymology: ME claue < OE clawu < IE *g(e)l-eu- < base *gel-, to make round, clench (as a fist) > cling, clamp, climb
transitive verb, intransitive verb
to scratch, clutch, pull, dig, or tear with or as with claws
claw Related Forms
clawed (klôd) adjective
claw Synonyms
claw
n.
claw Synonyms
claw Usage Examples
Object
- crayfish: Possible Species: Bats, Barn Owl, Badger, Otter, Water Voles, Great Crested Newts, White clawed crayfish, Skylarks.
- frog: Xenopus laevis - scientific name for the African clawed frog, one of the model organisms used to study vertebrate development.
- deficit: Sylvia also drew up a recovery plan to try and claw back the deficit and reduce the level of staff absenteeism.
- toe: Clawing toes, high arch, varus hindfoot, some calf wasting.
Converse of object
- overgrow: The causes for overgrown claws are often quite simple.
- sharpen: Everything a cat could want for a day or night spent hiding, sleeping and sharpening those claws.
- crush: The biggest crushing claw of a lobster ever found was calculated to have been from a specimen that weighed about 9.3 kg.
Adjective modifier
- dexter: CREST: On a Wreath Or and Vert a Finch proper resting the dexter claw on an Escutcheon Or changed with a Fleur-de-Lys Gules.
- sharp: You've got sharp claws, my dear, you drop your scales on my clean floor.
Modifies a noun
- hammer: A claw hammer is probably the best for general DIY.
- clasp: Wish List £ 75.00 Sterling Silver Heart Drop Necklace Cute sterling silver heart necklace with lobster claw clasp.
- toe: In the case of a mallet toe, trigger toe or claw toe.
Noun used with modifier
- 'calcium: Information: Q My husband is suffering from a 'calcium claw ' on the heel of his foot.
- lobster: Wish List £ 75.00 Sterling Silver Heart Drop Necklace Cute sterling silver heart necklace with lobster claw clasp.
- dew: The holes ( arrowed ) are made by the dew claws which are often seen in soft mud.
- crab: A few crab claws also came from the midden.
- tiger: Along the way we spotted a tree where there were very visible tiger claw marks showing it had been used as a scratching post!
Possessives
devil: Devil's claw A stretching screw with two heavy books or claws.
Preposition: of
Browse dictionary entries near claw
- ‹ claviform
- ‹ clavier
- ‹ clavicorn
- ‹ clavicle
- ‹ clavichord
- ‹ claver
- ‹ clave
- ‹ clavate
- ‹ claustrophobia
- ‹ claustral
- claw hammer ›
- clawback ›
- clay ›
- clay mineral ›
- clay pigeon ›
- claybank ›
- clayey ›
- Claymation ›
- claymore ›
- claypan ›

