1
a
: the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey
b
: a finger or hand of a human being
2
: a part or object shaped like or suggestive of a heel or claw: such as
a
: an ogee molding
b
: the shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt
3
a
: cards laid aside in a pile in solitaire
b
Examples of talon in a Sentence
The hawk gripped the mouse in its talons.
Recent Examples on the Web
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The mom initially flew into the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake carrying a big stick in her talons as Shadow was eagerly tending to the eggs, the video shows.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
The reserve of a select group of noblemen, les talons rouges, signaled a sumptuary code, an inner circle, which explains why so many of the king’s courtiers were posed awkwardly in portraits for the purpose of displaying their trophy steppers.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Moon Knight's Handy Prompt: Corrected the issue where the ground visual cue for Moon Knight's Ultimate Ability would prematurely disappear—no more being caught unaware about incoming talons.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for talon
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Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The mom initially flew into the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake carrying a big stick in her talons as Shadow was eagerly tending to the eggs, the video shows.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
The reserve of a select group of noblemen, les talons rouges, signaled a sumptuary code, an inner circle, which explains why so many of the king’s courtiers were posed awkwardly in portraits for the purpose of displaying their trophy steppers.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Moon Knight's Handy Prompt: Corrected the issue where the ground visual cue for Moon Knight's Ultimate Ability would prematurely disappear—no more being caught unaware about incoming talons.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for talon
Cite this Entry
“Talon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talon. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
talon
noun
tal·on
ˈtal-ən 
: the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey
Medical Definition
talon
noun
tal·on
ˈtal-ən
: the crushing region of the crown of an upper molar
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