This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
maw
1[ maw ]
/ mɔ /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
the mouth, throat, or gullet of an animal, especially a carnivorous mammal.
the crop or craw of a fowl.
the stomach, especially that of an animal.
a cavernous opening that resembles the open jaws of an animal: the gaping maw of hell.
the symbolic or theoretical center of a voracious hunger or appetite of any kind: the ravenous maw of Death.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of maw
1before 900; Middle English mawe,Old English maga; cognate with Dutch maag,German Magen,Old Norse magi
Words nearby maw
Other definitions for maw (2 of 2)
Origin of maw
2Variant of ma
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use maw in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for maw
maw
/ (mɔː) /
noun
the mouth, throat, crop, or stomach of an animal, esp of a voracious animal
informal the mouth or stomach of a greedy person
Word Origin for maw
Old English maga; related to Middle Dutch maghe, Old Norse magi
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012