Meaning & use
claw
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Meanings
nouncountable
A sharp, curved nail on the foot of an animal, used for gripping, digging, or attacking.
Grammar: Countable: a claw, two claws.
Patterns
- sharp claws
- use its claws
The cat dug its claws into the sofa.
An eagle's claws are powerful enough to catch a rabbit.
The bear's claws left deep marks on the tree.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To scratch, tear, or grip with claws or fingernails.
Grammar: Can take an object (claw something) or be used without one (the cat clawed at the door).
Patterns
- claw at something
- claw something open
The kitten clawed at the curtain.
He clawed his way out of the wreckage.
She clawed the dirt away to find the buried key.
verbintransitivefigurative
To struggle hard to get something or to escape a difficult situation.
Grammar: Often followed by 'back' or 'at': claw back, claw at something.
Patterns
- claw back something
- claw your way to something
The company clawed back its losses in the final quarter.
She clawed her way to the top of her profession.
He clawed at the chance to prove himself.
Word forms
| plural | claws |
|---|---|
| third person singular | claws |
| past tense | clawed |
| past participle | clawed |
| present participle | clawing |
Common combinations
- sharp claws
- The hawk has sharp claws for catching prey.
- claw at something
- The dog clawed at the door to be let out.
- claw back money
- The government plans to claw back the overpaid funds.
- claw hammer
- Use a claw hammer to pull out the nails.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nail
- Nail is the general word for the hard part on fingers and toes; claw is used for animals' sharp curved nails.
- talon
- Talon specifically refers to a bird of prey's claw, while claw is broader for any animal.
- scratch
- Scratch is a verb meaning to mark or scrape with something sharp; claw often implies using claws or nails more forcefully.
Word family
- clawed adjective
- Having claws, as in 'a clawed creature'.
- clawless adjective
- Without claws.
Commonly confused: claw or clause?
claw vs clause
Clause is a grammatical or legal term (part of a sentence or contract); claw is the animal's nail or to scratch.
Practice
The cat ______ at the screen door to go outside.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'clawed' fits the past-time context. 'Claw' is the base form, 'clawing' is the -ing form (needs a helping verb), and 'claws' is present tense third-person singular, which would not match the past-time sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “claw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.