n.
Pronunciation: ' kl ā m
Function: 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
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 \ ' kl ā -m ə -b ə l \ adjective