claw
/klɔː/ (bre, ipa) · [klˈɔ] /klɔː/ (ame, ipa) · [klˈɔ] /ˈklȯ How to pronounce claw (audio)/ (ame, mw) · [klˈɔ] /klɑː/ (ame, ipa)
claw — noun
- clawsingular
- clawsplural
1. the hooked hard nail that many birds and animals have on their feet, used to gri
the hooked hard nail that many birds and animals have on their feet, used to grip, dig, or tear things
The eagle closed its claws around the fish just above the river.
claws around [something]
Our cat kept its front claws hooked into the sofa cushion.
front claws hooked into [something]
The fox dug at the frozen ground with one sharp claw.
A hawk's claw caught the glove when Ezra lifted his arm.
用法筆記
Used for birds and most land animals. For crabs, lobsters, and similar sea animals, English more often uses sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. a curved gripping part on the leg of some insects or sea animals, used to seize
a curved gripping part on the leg of some insects or sea animals, used to seize or hold things
The crab gripped the shell with one claw and dragged it away.
grip [something] with a claw
A lobster raised its claws when the diver moved too close.
The scorpion caught the beetle between its front claws in the sand.
Hyun watched the tiny insect clean its wing with a claw.
- pincer
emphasizes the two-part gripping shape of a crab or lobster claw
用法筆記
This sense is used for creatures like crabs, lobsters, and scorpions. It refers to the gripping body part, not the ordinary foot nail in sense 1.
3. a curved part on a machine or tool that grabs, lifts, or pulls things
a curved part on a machine or tool that grabs, lifts, or pulls things
The arcade claw dropped the toy just before the prize chute.
arcade claw
Workers used the steel claw to lift broken boards off the truck.
claw to lift [something]
The machine's claw seized the box and swung it onto the belt.
Valentina pulled nails free with the claw on the hammer.
用法筆記
Often names the curved grabbing part of a machine rather than the whole machine. It can also mean the curved back part of a hammer used for pulling nails.
4. a hand bent tightly so the fingers look like an animal's claw
a hand bent tightly so the fingers look like an animal's claw
The actor raised his hand like a claw as the monster entered.
hand like a claw
After the fall, Nikhil's fingers curled into a painful claw.
The cartoon witch reached forward with one long black claw.
Madison shaped both hands into claws for the school play.
用法筆記
Usually describes the shape of a person's hand in acting, pain, or medical conditions. It is not the normal word for a hand in ordinary use.
claw — verb
- clawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- claws3rd person singular
- clawing-ing form
- clawedpast simple
1. to scratch, tear, pull, or dig at something with claws, nails, or fingers, or to
to scratch, tear, pull, or dig at something with claws, nails, or fingers, or to drag yourself forward in this rough way
The kitten clawed the curtain when it heard birds outside.
claw + object
Yael clawed at the wet soil to free the buried pipe.
claw at + noun
The injured climber clawed up the bank and reached the road.
The angry bird clawed my sleeve and tore the cloth.
文法句型
claw + object
claw at + noun
claw your way + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often followed by at when someone is attacking, digging, or trying hard to reach something. The pattern claw your way emphasizes difficult movement or progress.