gnaw

American  

[naw] / nɔ /

verb (used with object)

gnawed, gnawed, gnawn, gnawing

1. to bite or chew on, especially 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.

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verb (used without object)

gnawed, gnawed, gnawn, gnawing

1. to bite or chew persistently.

   The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.

2. to cause corrosion.

   The acid gnaws at the metal.

3. to cause an effect resembling corrosion.

   Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.

gnaw British  

/ nɔː /

verb

1. to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little

2. (tr) to form by gnawing

   to gnaw a hole

3. to cause erosion of (something)

4. to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)

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noun

1. the act or an instance of gnawing

Other Word Forms

• gnawable adjective
• gnawer noun
• gnawing adjective
• gnawingly adverb
• outgnaw verb (used with object)
• undergnaw verb (used with object)
• ungnawed adjective

Etymology

Origin of gnaw

before 1000; Middle English gnawen, Old English gnagen; cognate with German nagen, Old Norse gnāga

Example Sentences

Looking out the window, I see a squirrel sitting on a branch gnawing away at some kind of nut.

From Literature

"Hunger is not something you can ignore or put out of your mind, it gnaws at your insides with increasing intensity," she continued, adding that hunger is particularly disruptive for children.

From BBC

The creature is gnawing on some parmesan crust with its eyes squeezed shut, like eating the scraps is an experience to be savored with everything it has.

From Literature

Beowulf gnawed anxiously on the back of his chair.

From Literature

It focused her mind wonderfully, and she began to understand why Beowulf found gnawing on hard objects so appealing.

From Literature

Related Words

• annoy
• bedevil
• haunt
• irritate
• nag