[klaw] 
| 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. Compare prong (def. 4). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
