gnawing
[ naw-ing ]
/ ˈnɔ ɪŋ /
noun
the act of a person or thing that gnaws.
Usually gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs: the gnawings of hunger.
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OTHER WORDS FROM gnawing
gnaw·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby gnawing
gnathostoma, gnathostome, gnathostomiasis, gnatty, gnaw, gnawing, gnawn, gnc, gneiss, gneissoid, gnetophyte
Definition for gnawing (2 of 2)
gnaw
[ naw ]
/ nɔ /
verb (used with object), gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.
verb (used without object), gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw·ing.
Origin of gnaw
before 1000; Middle English gnawen, Old English gnagen; cognate with German nagen, Old Norse gnāga
OTHER WORDS FROM gnaw
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for gnawing
British Dictionary definitions for gnawing
gnaw
/ (nɔː) /
verb gnaws, gnawing, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn (nɔːn)
(when intr, often foll by at or upon) to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little
(tr) to form by gnawingto gnaw a hole
to cause erosion of (something)
(when intr, often foll by at) to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)
noun
the act or an instance of gnawing
Derived forms of gnaw
gnawable, adjectivegnawer, noungnawing, adjective, noungnawingly, adverbWord Origin for gnaw
Old English gnagan; related to Old Norse gnaga, Old High German gnagan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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