| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024gnaw /nɔ/USA pronunciation v., gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw•ing. - to bite or chew on, esp. for a long time without stopping: [~ + object]The dog gnawed the bone.[no object]The dog gnawed at the bone.
- to wear away or remove by biting for a long time:[~ + object]The mice gnawed the paint off the walls.
- to form or make by biting or chewing for a long time:[~ + object]to gnaw a hole.
- to trouble;
vex;
plague:[~ + at]Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024gnaw (nô),USA pronunciation v., gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw•ing. v.t. - to bite or chew on, esp. persistently.
- to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.
- to form or make by so doing:to gnaw a hole through the wall.
- to waste or wear away;
corrode;
erode. - to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.;
vex;
plague.
v.i. - to bite or chew persistently:The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.
- to cause corrosion:The acid gnaws at the metal.
- to cause an effect resembling corrosion:Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
- bef. 1000; Middle English gnawen, Old English gnagen; cognate with German nagen, Old Norse gnāga
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: gnaw /nɔː/ vb (gnaws, gnawing, gnawed, gnawed, gnawn /nɔːn/)- when intr, often followed by at or upon: to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little
- (transitive) to form by gnawing: to gnaw a hole
- to cause erosion of (something)
- when intr, often followed by at: to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)
n - the act or an instance of gnawing
Etymology: Old English gnagan; related to Old Norse gnaga, Old High German gnaganˈgnawing adj , n |