claw
[noun]
Synonyms:
- nail, pincer, talon, tentacle
[verb]
Synonyms:
- scratch, dig, lacerate, maul, rip, scrape, tear

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. claw¹ /klɔː $ klɒː/ noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: clawu]

1. a sharp curved nail on an animal, bird, or some insects:
The cat dug his claws into my leg.
lobster claws

2. get your claws into somebody
a) if someone gets their claws into another person, they influence them in a harmful way:
The thought of Eloise getting her claws into the child made his blood run cold.
b) to say unpleasant things about someone in order to upset them:
Wait till the papers get their claws into him.

3. the curved end of a tool or machine, used for lifting things:
a claw hammer

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. claw² verb [intransitive and transitive]

1. to tear or pull at something, using claws or your fingers
claw at
The cat keeps clawing at the rug.

2. claw your way to try very hard to reach a place or position, using a lot of effort and determination
claw your way up/along/back etc
He clawed his way forward inch by inch.
Benson clawed his way back into the lead.
claw something ↔ back phrasal verb

1. to get back something that you had lost, by trying very hard:
The company has managed to claw back its share of the market.

2. British English if a government or organization claws back money it has given to people, it takes it back

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

claw
noun
ADJ. sharp a cat with sharp claws
powerful, strong
VERB + CLAW sharpen | dig, sink The tiger dug its claws into his leg.
show The lion growled and showed its claws.
retract
CLAW + NOUN mark
PREP. in sb's ~s The cat held a bird in its claws.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲