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
Off set, Erivo tapped nail artist Shea Osei to update her talons with museum-worthy manicures, some of which were decked out in crystals and and 3-D designs and always coated in dreamy OPI shades.
—
Michelle Lee, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
For more than 200 years, the bald eagle has been featured on the country’s Great Seal, which shows the bird carrying an olive branch and arrows in its talons.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024
With its distinctive brown body, white head and yellow beak, the bald eagle grasps an olive branch and arrows in its talons on the seal, which is used on official documents, military uniform buttons and every U.S. passport.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The eagle, grasping an olive branch and arrows in its talons on the Great Seal, appears on official U.S. documents, military uniform buttons and every U.S. passport.
—Jeanine Santucci, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for talon 
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Michelle Lee, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
For more than 200 years, the bald eagle has been featured on the country’s Great Seal, which shows the bird carrying an olive branch and arrows in its talons.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024
With its distinctive brown body, white head and yellow beak, the bald eagle grasps an olive branch and arrows in its talons on the seal, which is used on official documents, military uniform buttons and every U.S. passport.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The eagle, grasping an olive branch and arrows in its talons on the Great Seal, appears on official U.S. documents, military uniform buttons and every U.S. passport.
—Jeanine Santucci, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for talon
Dictionary Entries Near talon
Cite this Entry
“Talon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talon. Accessed 19 Jan. 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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