Definition

1. Noun:

   • The movable bone structure forming the framework of the mouth and holding the teeth: In vertebrates, the jaw is the part of the skull that opens and closes to allow for biting and chewing. It typically consists of an upper jaw (maxilla) and a lower jaw (mandible).
   • A gripping part of a tool: A "jaw" is one of the two or more opposing parts of a tool or machine (like a vise, wrench, or clamp) that close to hold an object firmly.

2. Verb:

   • To talk at length, especially in a boring, complaining, or scolding manner: To speak incessantly or tiresomely.
   • To chew food: To bite and grind with the teeth (though this usage is less common and often informal).

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He broke his lower jaw in the accident. (The bone structure of his mouth was injured.)
  • Tighten the vise's jaw to secure the piece of wood. (The gripping part of the tool needs to be closed.)
  • The crocodile has powerful jaws. (The parts of its mouth that open and close are very strong.)

• Verb:

  • The manager jawed at the team for an hour about punctuality. (The manager talked at length in a scolding manner.)
  • They sat on the porch, just jawing about old times. (They were talking socially without a specific purpose.)
  • (Informal) He was jawing his gum loudly. (He was chewing his gum noisily.)

Advanced Usage

• "the jaws of death": A dangerous or life-threatening situation.
  • The rescue team pulled him from the jaws of death.
• "jaw away": To talk continuously.
  • He can jaw away for hours on the phone.
• "jaw-dropping": Extremely surprising or astonishing (often used as an adjective).
  • The view from the cliff was jaw-dropping.

Variants and Related Words

• Jawbone (n): Another term for the mandible or lower jaw.
• Jawline (n): The contour of the lower edge of the jaw.
• Jawbreaker (n): A very hard candy; also, a long and difficult-to-pronounce word.
• Jawed (adj): Having a jaw or jaws of a specified kind (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Noun (for the body part): Mandible (specifically for the lower jaw), maxilla (for the upper jaw).
• Verb (for talking): Gab, chatter, lecture, scold, reprimand.
• Verb (for chewing): Masticate, chew.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Jaw on: To continue talking about something, often tediously.
  • He kept jawing on about his car troubles.
• Jaw at someone: To scold or lecture someone.
  • My boss jawed at me for being late.

Related Idioms

• "Set one's jaw": To show determination or stubbornness by tightening the jaw muscles.
  • She set her jaw and refused to give up.
• "Jaw-jaw is better than war-war": A saying that emphasizes talking (even lengthy discussion) is preferable to fighting.
• "Lockjaw": The common name for tetanus, a disease causing muscle stiffness, especially in the jaw.

Noun

1. holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
2. the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
3. the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

Verb

1. censure severely or angrily
   • The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
   • The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
   • The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
2. chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
   • He jawed his bubble gum
   • Chew your food and don't swallow it!
   • The cows were masticating the grass
3. talk incessantly and tiresomely
4. talk socially without exchanging too much information
   • the men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze