jaw

/dʤɔ:/
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jaw

A dentist examines a patient's jaw during a checkup.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • The movable bone structure forming the framework of the mouth and holding the teeth: In vertebrates, the jaw is the part of the skull that opens and closes to allow for biting and chewing. It typically consists of an upper jaw (maxilla) and a lower jaw (mandible).
    • A gripping part of a tool: A "jaw" is one of the two or more opposing parts of a tool or machine (like a vise, wrench, or clamp) that close to hold an object firmly.

  2. Verb:

    • To talk at length, especially in a boring, complaining, or scolding manner: To speak incessantly or tiresomely.
    • To chew food: To bite and grind with the teeth (though this usage is less common and often informal).
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • He broke his lower jaw in the accident. (The bone structure of his mouth was injured.)
    • Tighten the vise's jaw to secure the piece of wood. (The gripping part of the tool needs to be closed.)
    • The crocodile has powerful jaws. (The parts of its mouth that open and close are very strong.)

  • Verb:

    • The manager jawed at the team for an hour about punctuality. (The manager talked at length in a scolding manner.)
    • They sat on the porch, just jawing about old times. (They were talking socially without a specific purpose.)
    • (Informal) He was jawing his gum loudly. (He was chewing his gum noisily.)
Advanced Usage
  • "the jaws of death": A dangerous or life-threatening situation.
    • The rescue team pulled him from the jaws of death.
  • "jaw away": To talk continuously.
    • He can jaw away for hours on the phone.
  • "jaw-dropping": Extremely surprising or astonishing (often used as an adjective).
    • The view from the cliff was jaw-dropping.
Variants and Related Words
  • Jawbone (n): Another term for the mandible or lower jaw.
  • Jawline (n): The contour of the lower edge of the jaw.
  • Jawbreaker (n): A very hard candy; also, a long and difficult-to-pronounce word.
  • Jawed (adj): Having a jaw or jaws of a specified kind (e.g., ).
Synonyms
  • Noun (for the body part): Mandible (specifically for the lower jaw), maxilla (for the upper jaw).
  • Verb (for talking): Gab, chatter, lecture, scold, reprimand.
  • Verb (for chewing): Masticate, chew.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Jaw on: To continue talking about something, often tediously.
    • He kept jawing on about his car troubles.
  • Jaw at someone: To scold or lecture someone.
    • My boss jawed at me for being late.
Related Idioms
  • "Set one's jaw": To show determination or stubbornness by tightening the jaw muscles.
    • She set her jaw and refused to give up.
  • "Jaw-jaw is better than war-war": A saying that emphasizes talking (even lengthy discussion) is preferable to fighting.
  • "Lockjaw": The common name for tetanus, a disease causing muscle stiffness, especially in the jaw.
jaw

A dentist examines a patient's jaw during a checkup.

Noun
  1. holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
  2. the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
  3. the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
Verb
  1. censure severely or angrily
    • The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
    • The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
    • The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
  2. chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
    • He jawed his bubble gum
    • Chew your food and don't swallow it!
    • The cows were masticating the grass
  3. talk incessantly and tiresomely
  4. talk socially without exchanging too much information
    • the men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze

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