a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.
a similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.
the pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods: lobster claws.
any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.
Typography. the hooklike projection from the right side of an r or from the bowl of a g.
(in a motion-picture mechanism) a device having one or two teeth that hook into the perforations of a length of film and move it one frame at a time at any given speed.
Jewelry. one of a group of slender, tapering metal projections rising from the base of a jewelry setting, used to hold a transparent or faceted gemstone in position.Compare prong (def. 4).
verb (used with object)
to tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws: The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds.
to make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws: to claw a hole in the earth.
to proceed by or as if by using the hands: He clawed his way through the crowd.
verb (used without object)
to scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws: The cat clawed and hissed in fear.
to make fumbling motions: He clawed at the door. She clawed for the light switch.
Scot.to scratch gently, as to relieve itching.
Verb Phrases
claw back.See entry at clawback.
Origin of claw
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English clawu; cognate with Old High German chlō(a), akin to Dutch klauw, German Klaue; (verb) Middle English clawen, Old English claw(i)an, derivative of clawu (noun); akin to Dutch klauwen, German klauen
OTHER WORDS FROM claw
clawer,nounclawless,adjectivede·claw,verb (used with object)