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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
claw noun 1 a hard curved pointed nail on the end of each digit of the foot in birds, most reptiles and many mammals. 2 the foot of an animal or bird with a number of such nails. 3 any structure resembling a claw, eg the pincer of a crab or lobster or a sharp curved structure at the tip of the leg of certain insects. 4 something with the shape or action of a claw, eg part of a mechanical device. verb (clawed, clawing) tr & intr (often claw at something) to tear or scratch it with claws, nails or fingers.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon clawu.
claw something back 1 said of a government: to recover money given away in benefits and allowances by imposing a new tax. 2 to regain something with difficulty (eg commercial advantage etc) • She clawed her way back to solvency. |
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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