gnaw
to bite or chew on, especially persistently.
to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.
to form or make by so doing: to gnaw a hole through the wall.
to waste or wear away; corrode; erode.
to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague.
to bite or chew persistently: The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.
to cause corrosion: The acid gnaws at the metal.
to cause an effect resembling corrosion: Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
Origin of gnaw
1Other words from gnaw
- gnaw·a·ble, adjective
- gnawer, noun
- outgnaw, verb (used with object), out·gnawed, out·gnawed or out·gnawn, out·gnaw·ing.
- un·der·gnaw, verb (used with object)
- un·gnawed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for gnaw
/ (nɔː) /
(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 gnawing: to gnaw a hole
to cause erosion of (something)
(when intr, often foll by at) to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)
the act or an instance of gnawing
Origin of gnaw
1Derived forms of gnaw
- gnawable, adjective
- gnawer, noun
- gnawing, adjective, noun
- gnawingly, adverb
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
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