gnaw
Third Person
gnaws
Present Participle
gnawing
Past Tense
gnawed
Past Participle
gnawed
1
to chew on something persistently
transitive
- The puppy likes to gnaw on chew toys to soothe its teething discomfort.
- Frustrated by the stuck lid, he began to gnaw at it with his teeth to open the jar.
- The rabbit gnawed on the carrot, its sharp teeth making quick work of the crunchy vegetable.
- Despite having a variety of toys, the toddler preferred to gnaw on a soft rubber teething ring.
- The prisoner, frustrated and agitated, began to gnaw at the edges of his prison mattress.
2
to slowly wear away or damage something over time
transitive
- The rust gnawed at the edges of the metal, weakening it.
- The acid rain gnawed at the stone, slowly eroding it.
- Time had gnawed at the old wooden fence, leaving it splintered and worn.
- The harsh winds gnawed at the paint on the house, causing it to peel.
- The fire had gnawed at the forest, leaving only charred remains.