to naw

Examples

• All

• Kids sometimes naw on pencils when they are nervous or bored in class.

• He watched the mouse naw at the piece of cheese in the corner of the room.

• The dog loves to naw on its favorite toy.

• He always naws on his pencil when he thinks.

• The puppy began to naw the old slipper steadily, leaving bits of fabric and foam everywhere.

• Kids sometimes naw on pencils when they are nervous or bored in class.

• He watched the mouse naw at the piece of cheese in the corner of the room.

Synonyms

B

to bite

vsto naw

768 1.0

To use the teeth to cut, grip, or tear something

is specifically about repeated wearing down rather than single biting actions

G

to gnaw

vsto naw

30 3.2

Bite or chew something again and again to make it smaller

is the dialectal nonstandard form emphasizing persistent wearing away

N

nibble

vsto naw

12 3.2

A small, gentle bite often made carefully by an animal or person

is more about continuous wearing away, not one careful small bite

G

to gnaw at

vsto naw

7 6.1

To make someone feel worried or less confident for a long time

is the physical repetitive chewing sense rather than mainly weakening feelings

C

chomp

vsto naw

6 5.3

A strong bite or chew that makes a loud sound

is about repeated slow wearing rather than one forceful bite

C

to chew up

vsto naw

5 3.9

To damage something badly, often by biting or tearing

is about slow persistent wearing rather than sudden complete destruction

G

to gribble

vsto naw

9.9

To chew something slowly and repeatedly with small bites

is the dialectal nonstandard form used for the same persistent action

M

to manducate

vsto naw

• Formal

9.9

To chew food with the teeth

is an informal dialectal term for persistent wearing rather than formal chewing

How Strong

to eat away

17 4.1

to naw

• UK

9.9

to chew

457 1.0

to nibble

56 2.0

Surface Forms

Etymology