|
|
Definitions for: Gnaw [v] become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded"
[v] bite or chew on with the teeth; "gnaw an old cracker"; "chewed on a cookie"
Webster (1913) Definition: Gnaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gnawed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gnawing.] [OE. gnawen, AS. gnagan; akin to D. knagen, OHG.
gnagan, nagan, G. nagen, Icel. & Sw. gnaga, Dan. gnave, nage.
Cf. Nag to tease.]
1. To bite, as something hard or tough, which is not readily
separated or crushed; to bite off little by little, with
effort; to wear or eat away by scraping or continuous
biting with the teeth; to nibble at.
His bones clean picked; his very bones they gnaw.
--Dryden.
2. To bite in agony or rage.
They gnawed their tongues for pain. --Rev. xvi.
10.
3. To corrode; to fret away; to waste.
Gnaw, v. i.
To use the teeth in biting; to bite with repeated effort, as
in eating or removing with the teethsomething hard, unwiedly,
or unmanageable.
I might well, like the spaniel, gnaw upon the chain
that ties me. --Sir P.
Sidney.
Synonyms: eat at, erode, gnaw at, wear away
See Also: bite, chew, crumble, decay, delapidate, jaw, manducate, masticate, seize with teeth
|
|
Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder
Scrabble Cheat
Words With Friends Cheat
Hanging With Friends Cheat
Scramble With Friends Cheat
Ruzzle Cheat
Related Resources: animals starting with q animals starting with g |