Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [naw]
- /nɔ/
- /nɔː/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [naw]
- /nɔ/
Definitions of gnaw word
- verb with object gnaw to bite or chew on, especially persistently. 1
- verb with object gnaw to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling. 1
- verb with object gnaw to form or make by so doing: to gnaw a hole through the wall. 1
- verb with object gnaw to waste or wear away; corrode; erode. 1
- verb with object gnaw to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague. 1
- verb without object gnaw to bite or chew persistently: The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of gnaw
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English gnawen, Old English gnagen; cognate with German nagen, Old Norse gnāga
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Gnaw
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
gnaw popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 87% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
gnaw usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for gnaw
verb gnaw
- nibble — to bite off small bits.
- eat — to take into the mouth and swallow for nourishment; chew and swallow (food).
- chomp — If a person or animal chomps their way through food or chomps on food, they chew it noisily.
- crunch — If you crunch something hard, such as a sweet, you crush it noisily between your teeth.
- consume — If you consume something, you eat or drink it.
Antonyms for gnaw
verb gnaw
- construct — to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
- build — If you build something, you make it by joining things together.
- rebuild — to repair, especially to dismantle and reassemble with new parts: to rebuild an old car.
- aid — Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
- soothe — to tranquilize or calm, as a person or the feelings; relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger; to soothe someone with a hot drink.
Top questions with gnaw
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