Definition of "claw"

A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.  examples

A foot equipped with such.  examples

The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.  examples

A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.  examples

(colloquial) A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.  examples

(botany) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.  quotations  examples

(juggling) The act of catching a ball overhand.  examples

To scratch or to tear at.  quotations  examples

To use the claws to seize, to grip.  examples

To use the claws to climb.  examples

(juggling) To perform a claw catch.  examples

To move with one's fingertips.  quotations  examples

(transitive, obsolete)

1. (figuratively) , to flatter or humour (someone); to court, to fawn on.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.

     1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii]

   • To be ſhort, a wretched and curſed generation they be; hypocrites, pretending friendſhip, but they can not skill of plaine dealing and franke ſpeech. Rich men they claw, ſooth up and flatter: the poore they contemne and despiſe.

     1603, Plutarch, “Of the Novritvre and Edvcation of Children”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, page 15

2. To rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed; though he claweth them soon after in another acceptation.The spelling has been modernized.

     1655, Thomas Fuller, edited by James Nichols, The Church History of Britain, […], new edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837

3. To do (something) quickly.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Do'n't you remember, Sirrah, ſayes one, hovv vve clavv'd it avvay at ſuch a Place! Yes, ye Damn'd Rogue you, cryes t'other, vvhen you vvere ſo drunk you took your Aunt for the Bavvd.

     1667, Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, “The Sixth Vision of Hell”, in R[oger] L[’Estrange], transl., The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman […], page 181