What does "talon" mean?
A sharp, hooked claw of a bird of prey or other predatory animal.
Talon
/ˈtælən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sharp, hooked claw of a bird of prey or other predatory animal.
- Grammar: talon is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: claw, finger, gripper, nail.
- Usage evidence: and now doth gaſtly death With greedie talients gripe my bleeding hart, And like a Harpye tires on my life.
How to use "talon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "talon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "talon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "talon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "talon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "talon" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "claw" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "talon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A sharp, hooked claw of a bird of prey or other predatory animal.
"and now doth gaſtly death With greedie talients gripe my bleeding hart, And like a Harpye tires on my life."
- 2 a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey wordnet
- 3 One of certain small prominences on the hind part of the face of an elephant's tooth.
- 4 A kind of moulding, concave at the bottom and convex at the top; an ogee. (When the concave part is at the top, it is called an inverted talon.)
- 5 The shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt.
"The locks were constructed with two or three levers, and sometimes with a common tumbler. The talon is the secret; for after locking the bolt out, the key is turned round again quietly to catch the nib and force the talon up"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The remaining stock of undealt cards.
- 7 A document that could be detached and presented in exchange for a block of further coupons on a bond, when the original block had been used up. historical
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname transferred from the nickname.
- 2 A male given name from English of modern usage.
"'Very well, I shall call you Talon from now on. What does the name mean, in the tongue of the small folk?' 'It is a claw, like that found on a hawk,' Talon said."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"and now doth gaſtly death With greedie talients gripe my bleeding hart, And like a Harpye tires on my life."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "talon"?
Common synonyms include: claw, finger, gripper, nail, predatory claw.
How do you use "talon" in a sentence?
and now doth gaſtly death With greedie talients gripe my bleeding hart, And like a Harpye tires on my life.
How do you pronounce "talon"?
Pronounced /ˈtælən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English talon, taloun, from Old French talon (“heel, spur”), from Medieval Latin tālōnem, from Proto-Romance *tālōnis, from Latin tālus (“ankle”).
Etymology 2
The surname derives from Old French talon (“heel”) as a nickname for a deformity, or for a swift runner; also diminutive of Talbot and Talleyrand. The modern given name is associated with English talon.