[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/gnaw/)

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# gnaw

verb (gnaw, gnaws, gnawed, gnawing); usually «gnaw at», «gnaw on», «gnaw through»

«gnaw» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To gnaw means to bite or chew something again and again, especially something hard, like a dog with a bone or a mouse with wood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#m1)
2. If a worry or a feeling gnaws at you, it keeps bothering you for a long time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, rodents (rats, mice, beavers, squirrels) gnaw because their front teeth never stop growing; gnawing wears them down. Beavers gnaw through trees to build dams. In stories, «a gnawing hunger» or «doubt gnawed at her» shows a feeling that will not go away. Phrases: «gnaw on a bone», «gnaw through», «gnaw at someone», «gnawing hunger».

### Examples

- The dog gnawed on a bone under the table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x1)
- Mice gnawed through the bag of rice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x2)
- Beavers gnaw trees down to build dams. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x3)
- A rabbit needs things to gnaw so its teeth don't grow too long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x4)
- Guilt gnawed at Sam after he broke the window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x5)
- He felt a gnawing hunger on the long walk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x6)
- Don't gnaw your pencil! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x7)
- The witch returned and began gnawing the oak again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/#x8)

### Note

Silent g: say «naw» (rhymes with «saw»). Regular verb: gnawed. Other words with silent g: gnome, gnat, gnu, sign. Trap: «gnaw» is not «knaw» or «nor».

## In Jewish tradition

To chew or bite again and again. Job uses it for starving outcasts who chew dry ground.

**Interpretation.** The tradition reads the picture as showing how low the poor are brought, and Job's complaint is about those who were once mocked.

### Examples

- They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation. (Writings JOB.30.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gnaw/#x1)

### Note

Silent g: say «naw» (rhymes with «saw»). Regular verb: gnawed. Other words with silent g: gnome, gnat, gnu, sign. Trap: «gnaw» is not «knaw» or «nor».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gnaw» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gnaw/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gnaw» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gnaw.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «gnaw» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gnaw/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gnaw» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/gnaw.html) on Mova free.