Words / B2

KLOR/klɔː/

A claw is a sharp curved nail on an animal’s foot; as a verb, to scratch with that; claw back means recover money: a claw mark; claw back tax. Talon is a bird-of-prey twin; nail is human. Label the claw on the classification diagram. Mix-up: claw vs clause; clay (a nearby headword); do not write claw for a horror caption with no taxonomy or accounts sense.

Meaning

A sharp curved nail on an animal’s foot; as a verb, to scratch with that (claw back means recover money).

Examples

• “Label the claw on the classification diagram, not a horror caption.”
• “The Treasury clawed back the overpay, the accounts said, which is the recover-money sense — still quote the £ figure.”

Good to know

a claw mark; claw at; claw back + noun. Bird twin: talon. Trap: clause / clay. Biology and accounts. A sharp animal nail, a scratch, or recovered money — specify.

Near in meaning

talon, nail, pincer

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