Hand vs. Claw — What's the Difference?

A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand" and fingerprints extremely similar to human fingerprints) are often described as having "hands" instead of paws on their front limbs.

A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or tarsus for gripping a surface as they walk.

The end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb

A curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.

A pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time

Scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails

Used in reference to the power to direct something

(of a sailing ship) beat to windward

A person's workmanship, especially in artistic work

A sharp, curved, horny structure at the end of a toe of a vertebrate animal.

A person who engages in manual labour, especially in a factory, on a farm, or on board a ship

A chela or similar pincerlike structure on the end of a limb of a crustacean or arachnid.

The set of cards dealt to a player in a card game

One of one or more small curved structures at the tip of an appendage of an invertebrate, especially an insect or other arthropod.

A unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).

A limb terminating in such a structure.

A bunch of bananas

Something, such as the cleft end of a hammerhead, that resembles a claw.

Pick (something) up and give it to (someone)

(Botany) A narrowed, stalklike basal part of a petal, sepal, or bract.

Hold the hand of (someone) in order to guide them in a specified direction

To scratch, dig, tear, or pull with the claws or fingernails.

Take in or furl (a sail)

A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.

The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.

A foot equipped with such.

A homologous or similar part in other animals, as the terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates.

The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.

A unit of length equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially to specify the height of a horse.

A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.

Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock.

(colloquial) A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.

A pointer, as on a gauge or dial.

(botany) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.

(Printing)See index.

(juggling) The act of catching a ball overhand.

Lateral direction indicated according to the way in which one is facing

To scratch or to tear at.

A style or individual sample of writing.

To use the claws to seize, to grip.

A signature

To use the claws to climb.

A round of applause to signify approval.

(juggling) To perform a claw catch.

Physical assistance; help

To move with one's fingertips.

Hands Sports A hand ball in soccer.

To relieve an uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching (someone or something); hence (figuratively), to flatter or humour (someone); to court, to fawn on.

The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time.

To rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).

The number of cards dealt each player; the deal.

To do (something) quickly.

A player or participant in a card game

A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.

A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played

The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.

One who performs manual labor

Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.

One who is part of a group or crew

A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink.

A participant in an activity, often one who specializes in a particular activity or pursuit

To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.

The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability

To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court.

The strength or force of one's position

To rail at; to scold.

Often hands Possession, ownership, or keeping

To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw.

Power; jurisdiction; care

Sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

Involvement or participation

A mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something

An influence or effect

A structure like a pincer on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods

Evidence of craft or artistic skill

A bird's foot that has claws

An aptitude or ability

Move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging;

The aesthetic feel or tactile quality of something, such as a fabric, textile, or carpeting, that indicates its fineness, texture, and durability.

Clutch as if in panic;

A manner or way of performing something

Scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails

Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed.

Attack as if with claws;

A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word

To give or pass with or as if with the hands; transmit

To aid, direct, or conduct with the hands

(Nautical)To roll up and secure (a sail); furl.

To give (the ball) directly to a teammate, as in football. Often used with off.

To carry, strike, or propel (the ball) with the hand or arm in violation of the rules in soccer.

To make a handoff, as in football. Often used with off.

The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.

That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.

A limb of certain animals, such as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.

An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour and minute hands on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.

That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.

(card games) The set of cards held by a player.

(tobacco manufacturing) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.

(collective) A bunch of bananas.

That which has the appearance of, a human hand.

A bunch of bananas, a typical retail amount, where individual fruits are fingers.

In linear measurement:

Four inches, a hand's breadth.

(obsolete) Three inches.

A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.

Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

(especially in compounds) An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.

A performer more or less skilful.

An instance of helping.

Handwriting; style of penmanship.

A person's autograph or signature.

Promise, word.

Personal possession; ownership.

Management, domain, control.

Applause.

(historical) A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

(firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

A whole rhizome of ginger.

The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.

(archaic) Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

(archaic) Agency in transmission from one person to another.

(obsolete) Rate; price.

(transitive) To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.

(transitive) To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.

To manage.

To seize; to lay hands on.

To pledge by the hand; to handfast.

To furl.

To cooperate.

That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.

That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand

A measure equal to a hand's breadth, - four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

Side; part; direction, either right or left.

Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking.

Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature.

Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; - usually in the plural.

Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.

Rate; price.

That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once

The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.

To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.

To manage; as, I hand my oar.

To seize; to lay hands on.

To pledge by the hand; to handfast.

To furl; - said of a sail.

To coöperate.

The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb;

A hired laborer on a farm or ranch;

Something written by hand;

Ability;

A position given by its location to the side of an object;

The cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time;

One of two sides of an issue;

A rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece;

A unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses;

A member of the crew of a ship;

A card player in a game of bridge;

A round of applause to signify approval;

Terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos);

Physical assistance;

Place into the hands or custody of;

Guide or conduct or usher somewhere;