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

UC also said Title VI does not allow the government to claw back money spent on finished research.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The pursuing group never got momentum—Jorgenson and Simmons did a selfless job of disrupting efforts to claw McNulty back—and McNulty crossed the line first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

"Unfortunately he's pulled out this week, which gives me an opportunity to try to claw back some ground that I lost last week in Ireland," said McIlroy, who is at eight under overall.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

In September 2020, stocks moved lower after a torrid summer rebound rally that saw major indexes claw back their COVID-19-related losses.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

For some reason, he had forgotten to carry the claw the time he got lost on the ice.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

They opted instead for the civil settlement, which claws back money the company earned from selling formula through federally funded nutrition programs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

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

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

A game called "Flappy Bill" features a bald eagle carrying a document in its claws that tries to avoid smashing into columns of various heights, against a background that resembles Washington DC.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

These medium-sized mammals, found only in Africa and Asia, have long, powerful tails, large curved claws, and bodies covered in overlapping scales that resemble a pinecone.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

He flew straight up, using his claws as a guide, before alighting on the very, very top, away from even the other birds, who included Pelicarnassus.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

However, South Africa clawed their way back to triumph - just as their director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had predicted.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

But an extraordinary 90-foot putt from Kupcho on the 17th clawed the Americans back into contention and they headed up the last hole all square.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

Historically, authorities have clawed back pilfered funds about 75% of the time when scams were reported within 72 hours, said the FBI’s Lynch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

The Dodgers clawed back two runs in the seventh.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

He clawed at the door, fell to his knees.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

While holding Gnocchi, a large street cleaning truck whipped down the street and startled him into clawing away.

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

And a tiny dog named Max Payne wasn't running around barking and clawing at it.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• fingernail
• paw
• tentacle