Claim - Definition

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: claim, 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,
claim]
6: a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty" [syn:
call, claim]
v 1: assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing;
"He claimed that he killed the burglar" [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: claim, lay claim, arrogate]
[ant: forego, forfeit, forgo, give up, throw
overboard, waive]
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: claim, 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: claim, take, exact]