claw

Meaning

Noun

1. A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
2. A foot equipped with such.
3. The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.
4. A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
5. (colloquial) A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.
6. A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.
7. The act of catching a ball overhand.

Verb

1. To scratch or to tear at.
2. To use the claws to seize, to grip.
3. To use the claws to climb.
4. To perform a claw catch.
5. To move with one's fingertips.
6. (obsolete) To relieve an uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching (someone or something); hence (figuratively), to flatter or humour (someone); to court, to fawn on.
7. (obsolete) To rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).
8. (obsolete) To do (something) quickly.

Synonyms

talon

nail

fingernail

💅

scratch

toenail

hoof

clutch

scrape

nipper

tear

chela

pincers

pincer

hook

🪝

claw-shaped

paw

finger

climb

break

grab

jaw

toe

grasp

grate

clapperclaw

grip

fang

rip

destroy

finger nail

clamber

scramble

pair of tongs

pawl

pincher

pliers

pounce

rake

rasp

savage

scarify

seam

sharp point

shave

skin

spur

stick

strum

tickle

tongs

trap

🪤

unguis

ungula

Saxon

scratch all over

finger-nail

toe-nail

dig with fingers

paw with hooves

prehend

plyers

claw at

rip with claws

cam claw

jack catch

nail fingernail

adhere

short stalk

bog down

catch

chafe

claws

cleave

clove

cloven hoof

crab

🦀

crawl

creep

crowbar

demolish

detent

dig up

dog

🐕

feet

🐾

fingers

foot

🦶

forceps

formicate

fractionate

graze

grovel

hand

✋

hanger

hitch

infect

lacerate

maul

nails

pair of pliers

Pronounced as (IPA)

/klɔː/

Etymology

From Middle English clawe, from Old English clawu, from Proto-Germanic *klawō. Compare West Frisian klau, Dutch klauw, German Klaue, Danish klo, Norwegian klo, and Swedish klo.