Gnaw
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /nɔː/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Gnaw is a verb meaning (ambitransitive) To bite something persistently, especially something tough.
Meaning
(ambitransitive) To bite something persistently, especially something tough.
More Meanings
- (intransitive) To produce excessive anxiety or worry.
- To corrode; to fret away; to waste.
- The act of gnawing.
Example Sentences
have a gnaw of a bone
Ten thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon
The dog gnawed the bone until it broke in two.
Her comment gnawed at me all day and I couldn't think about anything else.
Word Forms
- gnaws
- gnawing
- gnawed
- gnawn
Synonyms for gnaw
Depending on context, synonyms include erode.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include erode, nibble, snap, snarf, fret, pick.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.