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# claw

noun (a claw, claws); verb (claw, claws, clawed, clawing)

«claw» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A claw is a sharp curved nail on the foot of an animal or bird, like a cat's, eagle's or bear's. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#m1)
2. A claw is the pincer of a crab, lobster or scorpion, used to grab things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#m2)
3. To claw is to scratch, tear or grab with claws or fingernails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#m3)
4. To claw your way is to move or get something with great effort. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#m4)
5. A claw can also mean a hand, especially a hooked one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, claws are adaptations for hunting, climbing, digging and defending. Cats can pull their claws in (retract); dogs cannot. In everyday life, the claw machine at fairs is a game. A claw hammer has a split end for pulling out nails. Phrases: «sharp claws», «claw at», «claw back» (get back with effort), «claw machine».

### Examples

- The cat scratched the sofa with its claws. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x1)
- The eagle grabbed the fish with its claws. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x2)
- Crabs pinch with their big claws. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x3)
- Bears use their claws to dig and climb. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x4)
- The puppy clawed at the door to get in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x5)
- I tried to win a toy from the claw machine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x6)
- Cats can hide their claws inside their paws. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x7)
- The climbers clawed their way up the steep slope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x8)
- “Shake hands, Starkey,” said Hook, proffering his claw. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/#x9)

### Note

Countable. A bird of prey's claws are also called talons. Do not confuse with «clause» (part of a sentence), which sounds similar. Safety: don't play rough with cats or dogs — claws can scratch and scratches can get infected.

## In Jewish tradition

In Psalm 10 the wicked man is pictured as a lion or beast of prey whose claws seize the helpless poor.

**Interpretation.** The tradition reads this as a picture of the cruel who crush the weak, and trusts that God hears the humble and brings justice.

### Examples

- He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall into his mighty claws. (Writings PSA.10.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/claw/#x1)

### Note

Countable. A bird of prey's claws are also called talons. Do not confuse with «clause» (part of a sentence), which sounds similar. Safety: don't play rough with cats or dogs — claws can scratch and scratches can get infected.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «claw» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/claw/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«claw» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/claw.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «claw» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/claw/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«claw» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/claw.html) on Mova free.