1. To ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of debts, for example.
2. To assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing.
3. To demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to; SYN. lay claim, arrogate.
4. To lay claim to; as of an idea; SYN. take.
5. To take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; SYN. take, call for, exact.

ETYM Of. claim cry, complaint, from clamer. Related to Claim, v. t.
1. An assertion of a right (as to money or property).
2. An assertion that something is true or factual.
3. An informal right to something; SYN. title.
4. A Demand for something as rightful or due.