Definition

1. Adjective: Having a shape that resembles or is similar to that of a claw.

Usage

The adjective "claw-shaped" is used to describe an object, part, or form that has a curved, pointed, and often tapered appearance, similar to the nail on the toe of an animal like a cat or bird of prey. It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb).

Examples

• The artisan carved claw-shaped feet for the antique chair.
• The strange seed pod was long and claw-shaped.
• Some orchids have beautifully intricate, claw-shaped petals.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Technical Description: Used in fields like botany, anatomy, or design to precisely describe form.
  • The fossil revealed a claw-shaped bone, indicative of a grasping limb.
• Metaphorical Use: Can describe abstract things that suggest a grasping or hooked form.
  • The claw-shaped shadow stretched across the wall.

Variants and Related Words

• Clawlike (adj.): A close synonym meaning resembling a claw.
  • The tool had a clawlike hook at the end.

Synonyms

• Curved
• Hooked
• Talon-like

Antonyms

• Straight
• Blunt
• Rounded

Related Phrases

• Shaped like a claw: A more descriptive phrase with the same meaning.
  • The coral was shaped like a claw.

Adjective

1. shaped like a claw