jaw

¹ American  

[jaw] / dʒɔ /

noun

1. a swelling wave of water; billow.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of liquid) to surge, splash, or dash forward, as in waves.

verb (used with object)

1. to pour or splash (liquid).

jaw ² American  

[jaw] / dʒɔ /

noun

1. either of two bones, the mandible or maxilla, forming the framework of the mouth.

2. the part of the face covering these bones, the mouth, or the mouth parts collectively.

   My jaw is swollen.

3. jaws, anything resembling a pair of jaws or evoking the concept of grasping and holding.

   the jaws of a gorge; the jaws of death.

4. Machinery.

   1. one of two or more parts, as of a machine, that grasp or hold something.

      the jaws of a vise.

   2. any of two or more protruding parts for attaching to or meshing with similar parts.

5. Also called throat.  Nautical. Often jaws a forked piece at the end of a gaff, fitting halfway around the mast.

6. Slang.

   1. idle talk; chatter.

   2. impertinent talk.

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verb (used without object)

1. Slang.

   1. to talk; chat; gossip.

   2. to scold or use abusive language.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to scold.

jaw British  

/ dʒɔː /

noun

1. the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth. In higher vertebrates it consists of the upper jaw (maxilla) fused to the cranium and the lower jaw (mandible)

2. the corresponding part of an invertebrate, esp an insect

3. a pair or either of a pair of hinged or sliding components of a machine or tool designed to grip an object

4. slang

   1. impudent talk; cheek

   2. idle conversation; chat

   3. moralizing talk; a lecture

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verb

1. slang (intr)

   1. to talk idly; chat; gossip

   2. to lecture

jaw Scientific  

/ jô /

1. Either of two bony or cartilaginous structures that in most vertebrate animals form the framework of the mouth, hold the teeth, and are used for biting and chewing food. The lower, movable part of the jaw is the mandible. The upper, fixed part is the maxilla.

2. Any of various structures of invertebrate animals, such as the pincers of spiders or mites, that function similarly to the jaws of vertebrates.

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Other Word Forms

• jawless adjective
• jawlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of jaw¹

First recorded in 1505–15; perhaps akin to jaup

Origin of jaw¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English jou(e), goue, jovwe, from Old French jo(u)e, jewe; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Evolution has similarly purloined existing features and modified them, using great thrift, for example, to transmogrify a piece of jaw into an ear or to transform a leg into a wing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Following defeat in the second Test in Brisbane, McCullum said his team could not have a "glass jaw", while captain Stokes said Australia is "no place for weak men".

From BBC

Moments after his defeat, he told the world about his suspected broken jaw and spat out blood for dramatic effect.

From BBC

Jake Paul has gone to hospital with a suspected broken jaw after he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight fight in Miami.

From BBC

"I think my jaw is broken. That was good, I'll come back and get a world championship belt at some point," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• bone
• mouth