verb
gnaw
NAW/nɔː/
To erode something with repeated small bites.
A mouse gnaws the edge of a wooden block.
Etymology
Old English gnagan describes biting off little by little, directly matching the gradual wearing-away action. Its ancestry is probably imitative of gnawing.
In context
They began to gnaw the skirting board, and the sound of their sharp little teeth echoed through the room.
More examples
- Rats have gnawed through the electrical wiring.
- The dog is gnawing on a bone.
- Rabbits gnaw the bark off young trees.
Forms
gnaw · gnaws · gnawed · gnawn · gnawing