# paws

/ˈpɔz/ (US) · /pˈɔːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paws
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. animal feet

noun · CEFR A2

the feet of an animal that has claws and soft pads, like a cat, dog, or bear.

For teachers: the plural form of the soft, padded feet of a quadruped mammal, typically one having claws.

- The cat cleaned its muddy paws before jumping onto the sofa.
- The biologist noted that the bear's paws left deep impressions in the soft riverbank mud, indicating a heavy adult male.

### 3. a pun on 'pause'

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal

a funny way to spell 'pause' when talking about animals.

For teachers: a humorous, informal pun on the homophone 'pause', specifically used in animal-related contexts.

- The video had a 'paws' button shaped like a kitten's foot.
- The pet grooming salon's advertisement featured a clever 'paws for thought' slogan to attract local dog owners.

## Examples

- The cat licked its front paws after eating.
- The puppy left muddy paws all over the clean kitchen floor after playing in the garden.
- The bear's massive paws were equipped with sharp claws designed for both digging and defense, leaving deep impressions in the soft riverbank mud.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.