Definition: claim

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

claim
     n 1: an assertion of a right (as to money or property); "his
          claim asked for damages"
     2: an assertion that something is true or factual; "his claim
        that he was innocent"; "evidence contradicted the
        government's claims"
     3: demand for something as rightful or due: "they struck in
        support of their claim for a shorter work day"
     4: an informal right to something: "his claim on her
        attentions"; "his title to fame" [syn: title]
     5: an established or recognized right: "a strong legal claim to
        the property"; "he had no documents confirming his title
        to his father's estate"; "he staked his claim" [syn: title]
     6: a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty" [syn: call]
     v 1: assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing; "He
          claimed that he killed the burglar"; "The guru claimed
          many followers [ant: disclaim]
     2: demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or
        title to: "He claimed his suitcases at the airline
        counter"; "Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because
        he is a foreign resident" [syn: lay claim, arrogate]
        [ant: forfeit]
     3: ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of debts, for
        example; "They claimed on the maximum allowable amount"
     4: lay claim to; as of an idea; "She took credit for the whole
        idea" [syn: take] [ant: disclaim]
     5: take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of
        affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard
        work took its toll on her" [syn: take, exact]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Claim \Claim\, v. i.
   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.           --Locke.

Claim \Claim\, n. [Of. claim cry, complaint, from clamer. See
   Claim, v. t.]
   1. A demand of a right or supposed right; a calling on
      another for something due or supposed to be due; an
      assertion of a right or fact.

   2. A right to claim or demand something; a title to any debt,
      privilege, or other thing in possession of another; also,
      a title to anything which another should give or concede
      to, or confer on, the claimant. ``A bar to all claims upon
      land.'' --Hallam.

   3. The thing claimed or demanded; that (as land) to which any
      one intends to establish a right; as a settler's claim; a
      miner's claim. [U.S. & Australia]

   4. A loud call. [Obs.] --Spenser

   To lay claim to, to demand as a right. ``Doth he lay claim
      to thine inheritance?'' --Shak.

Claim \Claim\ (kl[=a]m), v.?. [imp. & p. p. Claimed
   (kl[=a]md); p. pr. & vb. n. Claiming.] [OE. clamen,
   claimen, OF. clamer, fr. L. clamare to cry out, call; akin to
   calare to proclaim, Gr. ? to call, Skr. kal to sound, G.
   holen to fetch, E. hale haul.]
   1. To ask for, or seek to obtain, by virtue of authority,
      right, or supposed right; to challenge as a right; to
      demand as due.

   2. To proclaim. [Obs.] --Spenser.

   3. To call or name. [Obs.] --Spenser.

   4. To assert; to maintain. [Colloq.]