'Gnaw' definitions:
Definition of 'gnaw'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Gnaw'
From: GCIDE
- Gnaw \Gnaw\, v. i. To use the teeth in biting; to bite with repeated effort, as in eating or removing with the teeth something hard, unwieldy, or unmanageable. [1913 Webster]
- I might well, like the spaniel, gnaw upon the chain that ties me. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Gnaw'
From: GCIDE
- Gnaw \Gnaw\ (n[add]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gnawed (n[add]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Gnawing.] [OE. gnawen, AS. gnagan; akin to D. knagen, OHG. gnagan, nagan, G. nagen, Icel. & Sw. gnaga, Dan. gnave, nage. Cf. Nag to tease.]
- 1. To bite, as something hard or tough, which is not readily separated or crushed; to bite off little by little, with effort; to wear or eat away by scraping or continuous biting with the teeth; to nibble at. [1913 Webster]
- His bones clean picked; his very bones they gnaw. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To bite in agony or rage. [1913 Webster]
- They gnawed their tongues for pain. --Rev. xvi. 10. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To corrode; to fret away; to waste. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To trouble in a constant manner; to plague; to worry; to vex; -- usually used with at; as, his mounting debts gnawed at him. [PJC]
Synonyms of 'gnaw'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- ablate,
- abrade,
- abrase,
- afflict,
- agonize,
- ail,
- annoy,
- badger,
- bark,
- bedevil,
- beleaguer,
- bite,
- bother,
- burn,
- canker,
- chafe,
- champ,
- chaw,
- chew,
- chew the cud,
- chew up,
- chomp,
- consume,
- convulse,
- corrode,
- crucify,
- crumble,
- cut,
- devour,
- distress,
- eat,
- eat away,
- eat into,
- erase,
- erode,
- excruciate,
- fester,
- file,
- fray,
- frazzle,
- fret,
- gall,
- give pain,
- gnash,
- gnaw away,
- grate,
- graze,
- grind,
- gripe,
- gum,
- harass,
- harrow,
- harry,
- haunt,
- hector,
- hurt,
- inflame,
- inflict pain,
- irk,
- irritate,
- kill by inches,
- lacerate,
- martyr,
- martyrize,
- masticate,
- mouth,
- mumble,
- munch,
- nag,
- nettle,
- nibble,
- nibble away,
- nip,
- oxidize,
- pain,
- peeve,
- pester,
- pierce,
- pinch,
- plague,
- prick,
- prolong the agony,
- put to torture,
- rack,
- rankle,
- rasp,
- raze,
- rub,
- rub away,
- rub off,
- rub out,
- ruminate,
- rust,
- scour,
- scrape,
- scrub,
- scuff,
- skin,
- stab,
- sting,
- tease,
- torment,
- torture,
- trouble,
- tweak,
- twist,
- vex,
- wear,
- wear away,
- wear down,
- worry,
- wound,
- wring