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gnaw
To gnaw is defined as to bite and wear away a small part at a time.
(verb)An example of to gnaw is a dog chewing on a bone.
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See gnaw in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb gnawed, gnawed or Raregnawn, gnawing
- to cut, bite, and wear away bit by bit with the teeth
- to make by gnawing: to gnaw a hole
- to consume; wear away; corrode
- to torment, as by constant pain, fear, etc.; harass
Origin: ME gnawen < OE gnagen, akin to Ger nagen (OHG gnagan) < IE *ghnēgh < base *ghen-, to gnaw away, rub away > gnash, gnat
intransitive verb
- to bite repeatedly: with on, away, at, etc.
- to produce a biting, consuming, corroding, eroding, tormenting, etc. effect: with on, at, etc.: waves gnawed away at the shore; fear gnawed on his consciousness
See gnaw in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb gnawed gnawed, gnaw·ing, gnaws verb, transitive
- a. To bite, chew on, or erode with the teeth.b. To produce by gnawing: gnaw a hole. See Synonyms at bite.c. To erode or diminish gradually as if by gnawing: waves gnawing the rocky shore.
- To afflict or worry persistently: fear that constantly gnawed me.
- To bite or chew persistently: The dog gnawed at the bone.
- To cause erosion or gradual diminishment.
- To cause persistent worry or pain: Hunger gnawed at the prisoners.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English gnauen
Origin: , from Old English gnagan
.Related Forms:
- gnawˈer noun
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