claim

Universal Words verb, noun verb say sth is true 1 to say that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it: [V(that)] He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing. * [Vtoinf] I don't claim to be an expert. * [VN] Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer. * [VNthat] It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week. [also Vspeech, VNtoinf] demand legal right 2 [VN] to demand or ask for sth because you believe it is your legal right to own or to have it: A lot of lost property is never claimed. * The family arrived in the UK in the 1990s and claimed political asylum. money 3 to ask for money from the government or a company because you have a right to it: [VN] He's not entitled to claim unemployment benefit. * She claimed damages from the company for the injury she had suffered. * You could have claimed the cost of the hotel room from your insurance. * [V] You can claim on your insurance for that coat you left on the train. attention / thought 4 [VN] to get or take sb's attention: A most unwelcome event claimed his attention. gain / win 5 [VN] (written) to gain, win or achieve sth: She has finally claimed a place on the team. cause death 6 [VN] (written) (of a disaster, an accident, etc.) to cause sb's death: The car crash claimed three lives. PHRASALVERBS claim sth<->back to ask or demand to have sth returned because you have a right to it: You can claim back the tax on your purchases. noun saying sth is true 1 [C] ~ (that...) a statement that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not agree with or believe it: The singer has denied the magazine's claim that she is leaving the band. * a report examining claims of corrupt links between politicians legal right 2 [C,U] ~ (on / to sth) a right that sb believes they have to sth, especially property, land, etc: They had no claim on the land, which was believed to be rich in oil. * She has more claim to the book's success than anybody (= she deserves to be praised for it). for money 3 [C] ~ (for sth) a request for a sum of money that you believe you have a right to, especially from a company, the government, etc: You can make a claim on your insurance policy. * to put in a claim for an allowance * a claim for ｣2000 * Make sure your claims for expenses are submitted by the end of the month. * a three per cent pay claim * Complete a claim form (= an official document which you must use in order to request money from an organization). IDIOMS claim to fame (often humorous) one thing that makes a person or place important or interesting: His main claim to fame is that he went to school with the Prime Minister. * The town's only claim to fame is the castle. have a claim on sb to have the right to demand time, attention, etc. from sb: You have no claim on me any more. lay claim to sth to state that you have a right to own sth: He laid claim to the property / inheritance. make no claim used when you are saying that you cannot do sth: I make no claim to understand modern art. moreatSTAKEv.