claw

American  

[klaw] / klɔ /

noun

• claws
  plural

1. a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.

2. a similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.

3. the pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods.

   lobster claws.

4. any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.

5. Typography. the hooklike projection from the right side of an r or from the bowl of a g.

6. (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.

7. 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.

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verb (used with object)

• claws,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clawed,
  past participle,  past
• clawing
  present participle

1. to tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws.

   The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds.

2. to make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws.

   to claw a hole in the earth.

3. to proceed by or as if by using the hands.

   He clawed his way through the crowd.

verb (used without object)

• claws,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clawed,
  past participle,  past
• clawing
  present participle

1. to scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws.

   The cat clawed and hissed in fear.

2. to make fumbling motions.

   He clawed at the door. She clawed for the light switch.

3. Scot. to scratch gently, as to relieve itching.

verb phrase

1. claw back. see clawback.

claw British  

/ klɔː /

noun

1. a curved pointed horny process on the end of each digit in birds, some reptiles, and certain mammals

2. a corresponding structure in some invertebrates, such as the pincer of a crab

3. a part or member like a claw in function or appearance

4. botany the narrow basal part of certain petals and sepals

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verb

1. to scrape, tear, or dig (something or someone) with claws, etc

2. (tr) to create by scratching as with claws

   to claw an opening

claw Scientific  

/ klô /

1. A sharp, curved nail at the end of a toe of a mammal, reptile, or bird.

2. A pincer, as of a lobster or crab, used for grasping.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clawer
  noun
• declaw
  verb (used with object)
• clawless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• claws
  plural

Participles

• clawing
  present
• clawed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• claw
  simple
• claws
  simple
• have clawed
  perfect
• has clawed
  perfect
• am clawing
  progressive
• are clawing
  progressive
• is clawing
  progressive
• have been clawing
  perfect progressive
• has been clawing
  perfect progressive

Past

• clawed
  simple
• had clawed
  perfect
• was clawing
  progressive
• were clawing
  progressive
• had been clawing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will claw
  simple
• will have clawed
  perfect
• will be clawing
  progressive
• will have been clawing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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

Explanation

The word claw is all about grabbing. It could be a lobster claw or even an ambitious worker clawing his way up the corporate ladder. As a noun, a claw is the pointy finger-like grabbers that birds, insects, and some lizards and mammals have. Machines can have claws too, and maybe you’ve seen the game at an arcade where you make a metal claw pick up a toy. Claw can be a verb as well, meaning to grab, scratch, or pull in a painful and jolting way. Should someone bury you up to your neck in a hole, you’ll have to claw your way out. And you can accidentally claw your date if you grab her arm during a scary movie.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

claw claws clawed clawing

A Singaporean man has lost a court case to claw back hundreds of thousands of dollars that he had lavished on his ex-girlfriend while they were together.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

This could be a sign that shoppers immediately resell them to claw back some of their cash.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Call it a win, call it an escape, call it the clandestine claw of the dreaded Wolverine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The Dodgers’ series against the Brewers set up a chance for the home team to claw back onto the top of the National League standings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

The ghastly cat’s hackles grew higher as he meant to pounce and claw me out.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

There are some stealth options, but I generally ignored them and went in with my claws out.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Equity markets fluctuated ahead of the CPI release, though Seoul enjoyed another strong day as it claws back some of the huge tech-led losses sustained in July.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

The buddy comedy “Deadpool & Wolverine” had its claws into July after it earned $211 million domestically in its opening weekend in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

Fossils suggest Teilhardina differed from other mammals of the time as it had fingernails rather than claws, which helped it grasp branches and handle food – a key characteristic of primates to this day.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 20, 2026

“And we have a matching set,” George told Sue, parting his hair to reveal the scars Nanuq’s claws had left on his scalp.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Armed with ferocious intent and a forward line ravenous for turnover ball, Mayo rattled Kerry during a period when they clawed back from seven points down to revive their hopes.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

A clawed caper at the Santa Monica Pier went awry despite “sophisticated” attempts by suspects to get away with poaching roughly three dozen spiny lobsters, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Williams clawed back a few times when she looked good and cooked, and when she did that, she let out a signature Serena “Come on!”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

SK Hynix and Samsung clawed back some of their recent losses in Asian trading.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

The bear had clawed the bark at least two days before.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

“They are clawing you to get away because, to them, that is a life-and-death situation.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Meta shares were up as much as 4.1% earlier Wednesday, before reversing lower and then clawing back into positive territory.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

In its place, Bessent said, America now has a “C economy,” in which lower wage earners are, in his telling, finally clawing their way back.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

Top decision makers instead closed the probe, the people said, opting for a lighter-touch option: clawing back money the company earned from selling formula through federally funded nutrition programs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

The monkeys chattered angrily, spitting and clawing, but their former servant was persistent, pushing and shoving with the broom until both monkeys were out the door.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

Related Words

• fingernail
• paw
• tentacle