<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>A sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.</li><li>A similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.</li><li>The pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods: lobster claws.</li><li>Any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.</li><li>Typography: the hooklike projection from the right side of an "r" or from the bowl of a "g."</li><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>Mining: an isolated mass of rock or ore in a mine, usually serving as a roof support in early operations and later removed, wholly or in part.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) To tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws: "The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds."</li><li>To make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws: "To claw a hole in the earth."</li><li>To proceed by or as if by using the hands: "He clawed his way through the crowd."</li><li>(used without object) To scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws: "The cat clawed and hissed in fear."</li><li>To make fumbling motions: "He clawed at the door." "She clawed for the light switch."</li></ul><p><strong>Verb Phrase</strong></p><ul><li>Clawback.</li></ul>