/ klɔː; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
one of the sharp curved nails on the end of an animal's or a bird's foot
—picture at bird
2.
a long, sharp curved part of the body of some types of shellfish , used for catching and holding things :
the claws of a crab
—picture at lobster , crab
3.
part of a tool or machine, like a claw, used for holding, pulling or lifting things :
a claw hammer (= used for pulling out nails)
—picture at hammer
•
IDIOMS
- get your claws into sb
—more at red adjective
■ verb
claw (at) sb/sth to scratch or tear sb/sth with claws or with your nails :
[ v ]
The cat was clawing at the leg of the chair.
( figurative ) [ vn ]
She had clawed Stephen across the face.
( figurative )
His hands clawed the air.
•
IDIOMS
- claw your way back, into sth, out of sth, to sth, etc.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- claw sth back
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English clawu (noun), clawian (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch klauw and German Klaue .