A claw is a hard, curved part on animal feet. It helps animals catch or hold things. Many animals like cats and birds have claws.
The cat uses its claw to catch mice.
Birds have sharp claws for holding food.
A claw can also mean a tool shaped like an animal claw. People use it to pull or take out things like nails or objects.
He used a claw to open the box.
The claw pulled the nails from wood.
To claw means to use claws to scratch or hold something. It is an action animals and sometimes humans do with difficulty or effort.
The cat clawed the chair hard.
She clawed her way up the hill.
In machines, a claw is a part that grabs or holds objects. It works like an animal’s claw to pick or move things.
The excavator has claws for digging earth.
The robot’s claw picked up the box.
A claw can mean a scratch or injury done by claws. It shows a quick attack or fight using nails or claws.
The dog's claw left scratches on me.
He received a claw during the fight.
Claw can describe sharp ice spikes that form in cold places. They look like animal claws but are made of ice.
Sharp claws of ice grew on the window.
The frozen claws on the tree were cold.
A claw also means a game machine with a moving grabber that tries to pick toys or prizes. It is popular in arcades.
She won a toy from the claw machine.
I dropped a coin in the claw game.
Sometimes 'claw' is used informally to mean a hand or fist, especially when it grabs firmly or strongly. This use is more figurative.
He grabbed me with his big claw.
Watch out for his claw when he fights.
