claim

claim¹ W1S1 [kleım] v

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(truth)¦

2¦(money)¦

3¦(legal right)¦

4¦(death)¦

5¦(attention)¦

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: clamer, from Latin clamare 'to cry out, shout']

1.) ¦(TRUTH)¦ [T]

to state that something is true, even though it has not been proved

claim (that)

▪ The company claims that their product 'makes you thin without dieting'.

claim to do/be sth

▪ No responsible therapist will claim to cure your insomnia.

▪ I don't claim to be a feminist, but I'd like to see more women in managerial posts.

claim to have done sth

▪ Two young girls claim to have seen the fairies.

claim responsibility/credit (for sth)

(=say officially that you are responsible for something that has happened)

▪ The group claimed responsibility for a series of bombings.

▪ Opposition leaders will claim victory if the turnout is lower than 50%.

claim sb/sth as sth

▪ A letter appeared in The Times claiming Fleming as the discoverer of penicillin.

2.) ¦(MONEY)¦ [I and T]

to officially demand or receive money from an organization because you have a right to it

claim sth back

▪ He should be able to claim the price of the ticket back.

claim on BrE

▪ You can claim on the insurance if you have an accident while on holiday.

claim benefit/an allowance/damages etc

▪ If you're still not satisfied, you may be able to claim compensation .

3.) ¦(LEGAL RIGHT)¦ [T]

to state that you have a right to take or have something that is legally yours

▪ The majority of those who claim asylum are genuine refugees.

▪ Lost property can be claimed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

4.) ¦(DEATH)¦ [T]

if a war, accident etc claims lives, people die because of it - used especially in news reports

▪ The earthquake has so far claimed over 3000 lives.

5.) ¦(ATTENTION)¦ [T]

if something claims your attention, you notice and consider it carefully

▪ The military conflict continues to claim our undivided attention.

claim ²

claim² W1S2 n

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1¦(truth)¦

2¦(money)¦

3¦(rights)¦

4 stake your claim (for something)

5 somebody's/something's claim to fame

6¦(land)¦

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1.) ¦(TRUTH)¦

a statement that something is true, even though it has not been proved

claim that

▪ Gould rejected claims that he had acted irresponsibly.

false/extravagant/dubious etc claims

▪ firms that make false claims about their products

▪ They made claims they couln't live up to.

▪ the competing claims of scientists

dispute/deny/reject a claim

▪ The foreign affairs department has denied claims that the men were tortured.

▪ Evidence to support these claims is still lacking.

claim to do/be sth

▪ his claim to be the rightful owner of the painting

▪ I make no claim to understand the complexities of the situation.

2.) ¦(MONEY)¦

a) an official request for money that you think you have a right to

claim for

▪ claims for compensation

reject/uphold/lose etc a claim

▪ A disabled man has lost his claim for unfair dismissal.

make/put in/file a claim

▪ All claims should be made in writing.

pay/wage claim

(=a request from workers for more money)

▪ Fill in and return the claim form as soon as it arrives.

b) the sum of money you request when you make a claim

▪ The insurance company cannot meet (=pay) such enormous claims .

3.) ¦(RIGHTS)¦

a right to do something or to have something, especially because it belongs to you or because you deserve it

claim to/on

▪ Surely they have a rightful claim on their father's land?

▪ The Maldives pressed its claim to hold next year's summit.

▪ Philip feared Edward would lay claim to the Scottish crown.

▪ the competing claims of parents and teachers

have a claim on sb's time/attention etc

▪ A woman who has given a man children will always have some claim on his love.

4.) stake your claim (for sth)

to say that you have a right to own or do something, especially when other people also say they have a right to it

▪ Tickets are on a 'first come, first served' basis, so stake your claim now.

5.) sb's/sth's claim to fame

a place or person's claim to fame is the reason why they are famous - often used humorously to mention something that is not very important

▪ My main claim to fame is that I once shook Elvis's hand.

6.) ¦(LAND)¦

something such as a piece of land that contains valuable minerals