claw

claw
clawer, n.clawless, adj.
/klaw/, n.
1. a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.
2. a similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.
3. the pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods: lobster claws.
4. any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.
5. Typography. the hooklike projection from the right side of an r or from the bowl of a g.
6. (in a motion-picture mechanism) a device having one or two teeth that hook into the perforations of a length of film and move it one frame at a time at any given speed.
7. Jewelry. one of a group of slender, tapering metal projections rising from the base of a jewelry setting, used to hold a transparent or faceted gemstone in position. Cf. prong (def. 4).
v.t.
8. to tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws: The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds.
9. to make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws: to claw a hole in the earth.
10. to proceed by or as if by using the hands: He clawed his way through the crowd.
v.i.
11. to scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws: The cat clawed and hissed in fear.
12. to make fumbling motions: He clawed at the door. She clawed for the light switch.
13. Scot. to scratch gently, as to relieve itching.
[bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE clawu; c. OHG chlo(a), akin to D klauw, G Klaue; (v.) ME clawen, OE claw(i)an, deriv. of clawu (n.); akin to D klauwen, G klauen]

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also called  Talon,  

      narrow, arched structure that curves downward from the end of the digit in birds, reptiles, many mammals, and some amphibians. It is a hardened (keratinized) modification of the epidermis. Claws may be adapted for scratching, clutching, digging, or climbing. By analogy, the appendages of other lower animals are frequently called claws. The claw's shape is ordinarily suited to the food-getting habit of the animal. Eagles have long, curved talons for grasping prey; the claws of chickens are short and sturdy, for scratching the ground for food.

      There are two mammalian modifications of the claw: the nail and the hoof. A nail is a broad, flat claw on the upper surface of the digit. It is present in mammals, such as primates, that use their appendages for grasping. A hoof is a short, thick structure that surrounds the end of the digit. It is present in various forms in the ungulates, which have a reduced number of digits. Hoofs are an adaptation for running.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
, (with the claws), , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Claw — (kl[add]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Clawed} (kl[add]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Clawing}.] [AS. clawan. See {Claw}, n.] 1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails. [1913 Webster] 2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • claw — [klɔː ǁ klɒː] verb claw back phrasal verb 1. [transitive] claw something → back FINANCE if a company claws back shares, it takes back new shares that it had offered to its present shareholders, but they do not want to buy, and offers them to… …   Financial and business terms

  • Claw — (kl[add]), n. [AS. clawu, cl[=a], cle[ o]; akin to D. klaauw, G. klaue, Icel. kl[=o], Sw. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.] 1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird. [1913 Webster] 2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • CLAW — bezeichnet: CLAW Hypothese, Hypothese über einen negativen Rückkopplungseffekt in der Klimaforschung Claw (Computerspiel) Eagle Claw Operation Eagle Claw Der Mann mit der stählernen Klaue („The Steel Claw“) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Claw — Claw, v. i. To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw. Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal. W. D. Howells. [1913 Webster] {To claw off} (Naut.), to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Claw — Разработчик Takarajimasha Издатель Monolith Productions Дата выпуска …   Википедия

  • claw — claw; claw·less; wro·claw; de·claw; …   English syllables

  • claw — ► NOUN 1) a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals. 2) the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod. ► VERB 1) scratch or tear at with the claws or fingernails. 2) (claw away) try… …   English terms dictionary

  • claw — [n] nail of animal; tool shaped like nail of an animal barb, cant hook, clapperclaw, crook, fang, fingernail, grapnel, grappler, hook, manus, nail claw, nipper, paw, pincer, retractile, spur, talon, tentacle, unguis, ungula; concept 392 claw [v]… …   New thesaurus

  • claw — [klô] n. [ME claue < OE clawu < IE * g(e)l eu < base * gel , to make round, clench (as a fist) > CLING, CLAMP1, CLIMB] 1. a sharp, hooked or curved horny structure, or nail, on the foot of a bird and of many reptiles and mammals 2. a… …   English World dictionary

  • Claw — For other uses, see Claw (disambiguation). Talons redirects here. For the Bloc Party song, see Talons (song).For the UK band, see Talons (band). For the sports team, see Tulsa Talons. A domestic cat s retractable claw in protracted position A… …   Wikipedia

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