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jaw

Syllabification: (jaw)
Pronunciation: /jô/

Translate jaw | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of jaw

noun

  • each of the upper and lower bony structures in vertebrates forming the framework of the mouth and containing the teeth.
  • the lower movable bone of the jaw, or the part of the face containing it:she suffered a broken jaw
  • (jaws) the mouth with its bones and teeth.
  • (jaws) the grasping, biting, or crushing mouthparts of an invertebrate.
  • (jaws) used to suggest the notion of being in danger from something such as death or defeat:victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat
  • (usually jaws) the gripping parts of a tool or machine, such as a wrench or vise.
  • (jaws) an opening likened to a mouth:a passenger stepping from the jaws of a ferry
  • informal talk or gossip, especially when lengthy or tedious:committee work is just endless jaw we ought to have a jaw

verb

[no object] informal
  • talk at length; chatter:he could still hear men jawing away about the vacuum cleaners

Derivatives

jawed

adjective
[in combination]:square-jawed young men

jawless

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French joe 'cheek, jaw', of unknown origin

jaw in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of jaw in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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