How Do You Spell PAW?

Pronunciation: [pˈɔː] (IPA)

The word "paw" is spelled phonetically as /pɔː/ in British English and /pɑ/ in American English. The "aw" sound is a diphthong, which means it has two vowel sounds that glide together. The first sound is an open back vowel, represented by the symbol /ɔː/ in British English and /ɑ/ in American English. The second sound is a short /ɔ/ in British English and /w/ in American English. The spelling of this word reflects the way it is pronounced and is consistent with the English language's complex phonetic system.

Meaning and Definition
Top Common Misspellings
Other Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
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PAW Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "paw" refers to the soft, padded foot of certain mammals, particularly those belonging to the cat or dog family. It is a versatile and dexterous appendage that enables animals to walk, run, climb, dig, and manipulate objects. A paw typically consists of five digit-like structures called digits or toes, each tipped with a claw or nail.

    Paws are highly adaptable and vary in size and shape depending on the species. In cats and dogs, the front paws are generally larger and possess sharper claws compared to the hind paws. The structure of the paw allows for efficient weight distribution, shock absorption, and precise movements.

    Furthermore, paws often play a crucial role in communication and sensory perception. They possess numerous nerve endings, sweat glands, and scent glands, aiding in the detection of vibrations, temperature, and texture. Animals may also use their paws for grooming, cleaning their fur, or even covering their food.

    Due to its association with animals, the term "paw" can sometimes be used metaphorically to refer to a human hand, particularly when used in a playful or affectionate manner. In literature or colloquial expressions, referring to someone's hand as a "paw" can connote warmth, gentleness, or familiarity.

    In summary, the word "paw" denotes the foot of certain mammals, particularly cats and dogs, which serves various purposes such as walking, running, climbing, and manipulation. It encompasses a range of anatomical features and functions that contribute to an animal's mobility, perception, and communication.

  2. • The foot of an animal having claws; the hand, in contempt.
    • To scrape or draw the fore foot along the ground, as a horse.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PAW *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PAW

Etymology of PAW

The word paw originated from the Old French word poing which meant fist or paw. This word, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word ponus meaning palm of the hand. Over time, the meaning of poing evolved to specifically refer to the paw of an animal. Eventually, the word was borrowed into Middle English and further simplified to paw.

Idioms with the word PAW

  • cat's paw The idiom "cat's paw" refers to a person who is being used by someone else to achieve their own hidden or selfish agenda, while the person being used is often unaware of being manipulated. It originates from a fable in which a clever monkey convinces a cat to pull roasting chestnuts out of the fire, thereby burning its own paws while the monkey enjoys the chestnuts. This story is used metaphorically to describe situations where a person is naively used by another for their own gain.

Similar spelling words for PAW

Plural form of PAW is PAWS

Conjugate verb Paw

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have pawed
you would have pawed
he/she/it would have pawed
we would have pawed
they would have pawed
I would have paw
you would have paw
he/she/it would have paw
we would have paw
they would have paw

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been pawing
you would have been pawing
he/she/it would have been pawing
we would have been pawing
they would have been pawing

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would paw
you would paw
he/she/it would paw
we would paw
they would paw

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be pawing
you would be pawing
he/she/it would be pawing
we would be pawing
they would be pawing

FUTURE

I will paw
you will paw
he/she/it will paw
we will paw
they will paw

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be pawing
you will be pawing
he/she/it will be pawing
we will be pawing
they will be pawing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have pawed
you will have pawed
he/she/it will have pawed
we will have pawed
they will have pawed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been pawing
you will have been pawing
he/she/it will have been pawing
we will have been pawing
they will have been pawing

IMPERATIVE

you paw
we let´s paw

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to paw

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was pawing
you were pawing
he/she/it was pawing
we were pawing
they were pawing

PAST PARTICIPLE

pawed

PAST PERFECT

I had pawed
you had pawed
he/she/it had pawed
we had pawed
they had pawed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been pawing
you had been pawing
he/she/it had been pawing
we had been pawing
they had been pawing

PRESENT

I paw
you paw
he/she/it paws
we paw
they paw

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am pawing
you are pawing
he/she/it is pawing
we are pawing
they are pawing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

pawing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have pawed
you have pawed
he/she/it has pawed
we have pawed
they have pawed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been pawing
you have been pawing
he/she/it has been pawing
we have been pawing
they have been pawing

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it paw

SIMPLE PAST

I pawed
you pawed
he/she/it pawed
we pawed
they pawed

Infographic

Correct spelling for paw
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