gnaw
/nɔ:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To bite or chew on something persistently, often causing gradual damage: This describes the action of repeatedly biting or nibbling at something hard, like an animal gnawing on a bone or a person gnawing on a piece of food.
- To wear away, corrode, or erode gradually: This figurative meaning describes a slow, persistent process of destruction or deterioration, similar to how physical gnawing works.
- To cause persistent mental distress or worry: This figurative meaning describes a feeling or thought that troubles someone incessantly, like a nagging worry.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (Physical Action):
- The dog likes to gnaw on a large bone.
- Beavers gnaw tree trunks to build their dams.
- Verb (Figurative - Erosion):
- Rust continued to gnaw at the old iron gate.
- The constant dripping of water can gnaw away at even the hardest stone.
- Verb (Figurative - Mental Distress):
- A feeling of guilt began to gnaw at his conscience.
- Doubt gnawed into her confidence before the big presentation.
Advanced Usage
- "to gnaw at": This phrasal form is commonly used for both the physical action and, more frequently, the figurative meanings of causing erosion or mental distress.
- The puppy gnawed at the corner of the table leg. (Physical)
- The secret had gnawed at her for years. (Mental)
- "to gnaw away": Emphasizes the gradual, consuming nature of the action.
- Acid rain gnaws away at the limestone sculptures.
Variants and Related Words
- Gnawing (Adjective/Verb form): Describing a persistent, nagging sensation.
- He felt a gnawing hunger. (Adjective)
- The gnawing pain in his tooth wouldn't stop. (Adjective)
- Gnawn (Past Participle, less common): An alternative past participle to "gnawed."
Synonyms
- Chew: To crush food with the teeth. (Less persistent than ).
- Nibble: To take small, gentle bites.
- Erode: To gradually wear away (for the figurative sense).
- Fret: To be constantly worried or anxious (for the mental sense).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Gnaw at: To persistently bite, erode, or worry. (As detailed in Advanced Usage).
- Gnaw away (at): To gradually consume or destroy through persistent action.
Related Idioms
- "Gnawing doubt/fear/hunger": A standard collocation describing a persistent and troubling feeling.
- A gnawing fear of failure kept him awake.
- "Gnaw one's lip/fingernails": A common action indicating anxiety or deep thought.
- She gnawed her lip nervously while waiting for the results.
Verb
- become ground down or deteriorate
- Her confidence eroded
- bite or chew on with the teeth
- gnaw an old cracker