HOW TO PRONOUNCE
gnaw
/nɔ/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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The opening “g” is silent.
Begin gnaw with n and keep it to one vowel beat. Neither the written g nor the final w adds a separate consonant sound.
1 syllable
TRY SAYING
“The rabbit began to gnaw the branch.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does gnaw mean?
verb
- To bite something persistently, especially something tough.
- To produce excessive anxiety or worry.
- To corrode; to fret away; to waste.
More meanings (1)
noun
- The act of gnawing.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/nɔ/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
“They might as well be in use as packed away in that trunk in the garret for moths to gnaw.”
Beasts of prey merely gnaw the comparatively tender and spongy tops of the bones, leaving the hard, compact parts untouched.
More book examples (3)
The fish and mollusca which gnaw the stems of the seaweeds no doubt contribute also to detach them from their roots.
I have known a dog set to work, and gnaw and tear the flesh completely away from his legs and feet.
The itching in some cases is so intense as to lead the animal to constantly gnaw at the top of the foot.