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gnaw

 - 3 dictionary results

gnaw

  [naw] verb, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to bite or chew on, esp. persistently.
2. to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.
3. to form or make by so doing: to gnaw a hole through the wall.
4. to waste or wear away; corrode; erode.
5. to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague.
–verb (used without object)
6. to bite or chew persistently: The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.
7. to cause corrosion: The acid gnaws at the metal.
8. to cause an effect resembling corrosion: Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
Use gnaw in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME gnawen, OE gnagen; c. G nagen, ON gnāga

Related forms:
gnaw⋅a⋅ble, adjective
gnawer, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To gnaw
gnaw   (nô)   
v.   gnawed, gnaw·ing, gnaws

v.   tr.

    1. To bite, chew on, or erode with the teeth.

    2. To produce by gnawing: gnaw a hole. See Synonyms at bite.

    3. To erode or diminish gradually as if by gnawing: waves gnawing the rocky shore.

  2. To afflict or worry persistently: fear that constantly gnawed me.

v.   intr.

  1. To bite or chew persistently: The dog gnawed at the bone.

  2. To cause erosion or gradual diminishment.

  3. To cause persistent worry or pain: Hunger gnawed at the prisoners.


[Middle English gnauen, from Old English gnagan.]
gnaw'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gnaw 
O.E. gnagan (pt. *gnog, pp. gnagan), a common Gmc. word (cf. O.S. gnagan, O.N. gnaga, M.Du. knagen, Ger. nagen), probably imitative of gnawing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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