I. ˈklām transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French claimer, clamer, from Latin clamare to cry out, shout; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to ask for especially as a right
claim ed the inheritance
b. : to call for : require
this matter claim s our attention
c. : take 16b
the accident claim ed her life
2. : to take as the rightful owner
went to claim their bags at the station
3.
a. : to assert in the face of possible contradiction : maintain
claim ed that he'd been cheated
b. : to claim to have
organization…which claim s 11,000…members — Rolling Stone
c. : to assert to be rightfully one's own
claim ed responsibility for the attack
Synonyms: see demand
• claim·able ˈklā-mə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : a demand for something due or believed to be due
an insurance claim
2.
a. : a right to something ; specifically : a title to a debt, privilege, or other thing in the possession of another
b. : an assertion open to challenge
a claim of authenticity
3. : something that is claimed ; especially : a tract of land staked out