Your jaw is the lower part of your face below your mouth. The movement of your jaw is sometimes considered to express a particular emotion. For example, if your jaw drops, you are very surprised.
He thought for a moment, stroking his well-defined jaw.
Meg's jaw dropped in amazement.
His jaw was set, but his voice sounded thin and unsure.
2. countable noun
A person's or animal's jaws are the two bones in their head which their teeth are attached to.
...a forest rodent with powerful jaws.
3. plural noun
If you talk about the jaws of something unpleasant such as death or hell, you are referring to a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
A family dog rescued a newborn boy from the jaws of death. [+ of]
...caught in the jaws of world recession.
4. to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
5. to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
More Synonyms of jaw
jaw in British English
(dʒɔː)
noun
1.
the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth. In higher vertebrates it consists of the upper jaw (maxilla) fused to the cranium and the lower jaw (mandible)
▶ Related adjectives: gnathal, gnathic
2.
the corresponding part of an invertebrate, esp an insect
3.
a pair or either of a pair of hinged or sliding components of a machine or tool designed to grip an object
4. slang
a.
impudent talk; cheek
b.
idle conversation; chat
c.
moralizing talk; a lecture
verb
5. (intransitive) slang
a.
to talk idly; chat; gossip
b.
to lecture
Derived forms
jawlike (ˈjawˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: probably from Old French joue cheek; related to Italian gota cheek
jaw in American English
(dʒɔ)
noun
1.
either of the two bones or bony parts that hold the teeth and frame the mouth in most vertebrates: the mandible (lower jaw) is usually hinged and movable, the maxilla (upper jaw) is usually not
2.
any of various analogous biting structures of invertebrates
3. [pl.]
the mouth
4.
either of two mechanical parts that open and close to grip or crush something, as in a monkey wrench or vise
5. [pl.]
the narrow entrance of a canyon, valley, strait, etc.
6. [pl.]
something grasping or imminent
the jaws of death
7. Slang, Obsolete
a talk
verb intransitive
8. Slang
to talk, esp. in a boring or abusive way
verb transitive
9. Slang, Obsolete
to scold or reprove, esp. repeatedly
Word origin
ME jowe < OFr joue, cheek
jaw in Mechanical Engineering
(dʒɔ)
Word forms: (regular plural) jaws
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
The jaws of a machine or tool are a pair of hinged or sliding components designed to gripa workpiece.
The workpiece is mounted between the moveable jaws of the vise.
Bolt cutters have a pair of opposing jaws that cut with a pinching action.
The jaws of a machine or tool are a pair of hinged or sliding components designed to gripa workpiece.
Examples of 'jaw' in a sentence
jaw
He was rushed to hospital with a fractured eye socket, jaw and skull.
The Sun (2016)
They were lowest for clean-shaven faces with small jaws.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For some reason I was plucked from the jaws of hell and given another chance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This dog had her head in its jaws and they were locked on.
The Sun (2012)
His jaw is set in an unnatural position.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Sharks have the most powerful jaws on the planet.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
One dog goes to jaw with its owner after she gets too close.
The Sun (2013)
She suffered a fractured jaw and required plastic surgery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Metal air gun pellets were found in her jaw and face.
The Sun (2016)
Did he throw himself into the jaws of death to resolve some indescribable inner torment?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It will try and eat them but hurt its mouth and jaw on the jar.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
It is not unusual for them to have lower jaws and noses ripped off in a fight.
The Sun (2006)
The animal sank its jaws into his arm then attacked his partner and pet cat.
The Sun (2013)
You have to keep your jaw line and neck sculpted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Her nose and jaw were bandaged.
The Sun (2009)
She had significant injuries which consisted of a fractured skull, cheek bone and jaw.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It seemed to me that her bite was abnormal and that this was throwing extra strain on the joint between the jaw and the skull.
Whiteside, Dr Mike Banish Headaches -how to obtain fast, drug-free relief from headache (1990)
His upper jaw was detached.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Many cases settle spontaneously without any active treatment but if it goes on long term it can lead to significant tooth damage and jaw joint problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
No locusts, then, no jaws of hell.
The Sun (2011)
Word lists with
jaw
insect
In other languages
jaw
British English: jaw /dʒɔː/ NOUN
Your jaw is the part of your face below your mouth and cheeks.
He broke his jaw in two places.
American English: jaw
Arabic: فَكٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: maxila
Chinese: 颚
Croatian: vilica
Czech: čelist
Danish: kæbe
Dutch: kaak
European Spanish: mandíbula
Finnish: leuka leukaperä
French: mâchoire
German: Kiefer
Greek: σαγόνι
Italian: mascella
Japanese: あご
Korean: 턱
Norwegian: kjeve
Polish: szczęka
European Portuguese: maxilar
Romanian: falcă
Russian: челюсть
Latin American Spanish: mandíbula
Swedish: käke
Thai: ขากรรไกร
Turkish: çene
Ukrainian: щелепа
Vietnamese: quai hàm
All related terms of 'jaw'
glass jaw
a jaw that is excessively fragile or susceptible to punches
jaw harp
→ jew's-harp
lower jaw
the mandible or lower part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth . In higher vertebrates the lower jaw is fused to the cranium and the upper jaw
lumpy jaw
→ actinomycosis
Moose Jaw
a city in W Canada , in S Saskatchewan . Pop: 32 631 (2001)
open-jaw
relating to a ticket that allows a traveller to arrive in one place and depart from another
upper jaw
the maxilla or upper part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth. In higher vertebrates the upper jaw is fused to the cranium and the lower jaw ( mandible )
lantern jaw
a long hollow jaw that gives the face a drawn appearance
phossy jaw
gangrenous condition of the lower jawbone
rubber jaw
a condition in which the mandible becomes demineralized and excessively mobile in animals with advanced renal disease
jaw-dropping
Something that is jaw-dropping is extremely surprising , impressive , or shocking .
four jaw chuck
a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
jawbone
A jawbone is the bone in the lower jaw of a person or animal.
jawline
Your jawline is the part of your lower jaw which forms the outline of the bottom of your face .
three jaw chuck
a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
independent jaw chuck
a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
chuck
When you chuck something somewhere , you throw it there in a casual or careless way .
chuck steak
a cut of beef extending from the neck to the shoulder blade
Chinese translation of 'jaw'
jaw
(dʒɔː) (Anat)
n(c)
[of person]颌 (hé) (个(個), gè)
his jaw dropped他大吃一惊(驚) (tā dà chī yī jīng)
Derived Forms
jawsn pl[of person, animal]嘴巴 (zuǐba)
(noun)
Definition
a long chat
(slang)
Synonyms
chat
She asked me into her office for a chat.
talk
We had a long talk about life.
conversation
Our telephone conversation lasted an hour and a half.
gossip
There has been a lot of gossip about the reasons for his absence.
a magazine packed with celebrity gossip
craic (Irish, informal)
natter
We must get together some time for a good natter.
chinwag (British, informal)
gabfest (informal, mainly US, Canadian)
(plural noun)
Definition
the narrow opening of a gorge or valley
He opens the jaws of the furnace with the yank of a lever.
Synonyms
opening
gates
entrance
aperture
mouth
abyss
maw
orifice
ingress
(verb)
Definition
to have a long chat
(slang)
jawing for half an hour with the very affable waiter
Synonyms
talk
The boys all began to talk at once.
chat
I was just chatting to him the other day.
rabbit (on) (British, informal)
gossip
We gossiped well into the night.
chatter
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
spout (informal)
She would go red in the face and start to spout.
babble
They all babbled simultaneously.
natter
The pair would natter on the phone for hours.
schmooze (slang)
shoot the breeze (US, slang)
run off at the mouth (slang)
chew the fat or rag (slang)
related words
technical namesmaxilla (upper)mandible (lower)
related adjectivesgnathicgnathal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of babble
Definition
to talk in a quick, foolish, or muddled way
They all babbled simultaneously.
Synonyms
gabble,
chatter,
gush,
spout,
waffle (informal, British),
splutter,
gaggle,
burble,
prattle,
gibber,
rabbit on (British, informal),
jabber,
prate,
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of chatter
Definition
to speak quickly and continuously about unimportant things
Everyone was chattering away in different languages.
Synonyms
prattle,
chat,
rabbit on (British, informal),
babble,
gab (informal),
natter,
tattle,
jabber,
blather,
schmooze (slang),
blether (Scottish),
run off at the mouth (US, slang),
prate,
gossip
in the sense of conversation
Definition
informal talk between two or more people
Our telephone conversation lasted an hour and a half.
Synonyms
talk,
exchange,
discussion,
dialogue,
tête-à-tête,
conference,
communication,
chat,
gossip,
intercourse (formal),
discourse,
communion,
converse,
powwow,
colloquy (formal),
chinwag (British, informal),
confabulation,
confab (informal),
craic (Irish, informal),
korero (New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'jaw'
jaw
Explore 'jaw' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gossip
Definition
idle talk, usually about other people's private lives, esp. of a disapproving or malicious nature
There has been a lot of gossip about the reasons for his absence.a magazine packed with celebrity gossip
Synonyms
idle talk,
scandal,
hearsay,
tittle-tattle,
buzz,
dirt (slang),
goss (informal),
jaw (slang),
gen (British, informal),
small talk,
chitchat,
blether,
scuttlebutt (US, slang),
chinwag (British, informal),
clishmaclaver (Scottish),
newsmongering (old-fashioned)
in the sense of gossip
Definition
to talk idly or maliciously, esp. about other people's private lives
We gossiped well into the night.
Synonyms
chat,
chatter,
blather,
schmooze (slang),
jaw (slang),
dish the dirt (informal),
blether,
shoot the breeze (slang, US),
chew the fat or rag (slang),
prattle,
prate
in the sense of natter
Definition
a long idle chat
We must get together some time for a good natter.
Synonyms
gossip,
talk,
conversation,
chat,
jaw (slang),
craic (Irish, informal),
gab (informal),
prattle,
jabber,
gabble,
palaver,
blather,
chitchat,
blether,
chinwag (British, informal),
gabfest (informal, US, Canadian),
confabulation
in the sense of natter
Definition
to talk idly and at length
The pair would natter on the phone for hours.
Synonyms
gossip,
talk,
rabbit (on) (British, informal),
jaw (slang),
chatter,
witter (informal),
prattle,
jabber,
gabble,
palaver,
blather,
blether,
shoot the breeze (informal),
run off at the mouth (slang),
prate,
talk idly,
chew the fat or rag (slang),
earbash (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of spout
Definition
to talk about (something) in a boring way or without much thought