claimnoun/kleɪm/

• 1

  A demand of ownership made for something.

  • a claim of ownership
  • a claim of victory
• 2

  The thing claimed.

• 3

  The right or ground of demanding.

  • You don't have any claim on my time, since I'm no longer your employee.
• 4

  A new statement of something one believes to be the truth, usually when the statement has yet to be verified or without valid evidence provided.

  • The company's share price dropped amid claims of accounting fraud.
  • Bailey, in using accents, felt that he was 'directing to their proper pronuntiation' and showing 'the Orthoepia of the English Tongue' (title page, Dictionarium Britannicum, 1730 edition). The claim is ridiculous.
• 5

  A demand of ownership for previously unowned land.

  • Miners had to stake their claims during the gold rush.
• 6

  lawA legal demand for compensation or damages.

claimverb/kleɪm/

• 1

  To demand ownership of.

  • Jeffrey Chuang, an economics student at University College London, said: "I am for independence. I do not think China has any right to claim Taiwan. We have confidence in our country and we know that China is not capable of doing anything to us."
• 2

  To state a new fact, typically without providing evidence to prove it is true.

• 3

  To demand ownership or right to use for land.

• 4

  lawTo demand compensation or damages through the courts.

• 5

  To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim.

  • We must know how the first ruler, from whom any one claims, came by his authority, upon what ground any one has empire
• 6

  To cause the loss of.

  • The attacks claimed the lives of five people.
  • A fire claimed two homes.
• 7

  To win as a prize in a sport or competition.

  • He claimed $100 after winning the top spot.
• 8

  obsoleteTo proclaim.