gnaw
gb/nˈɔ/ us/nˈɔ/
B2
Anglais
rágcsál, rág, átrág, kirág, mardos, kikezd
VERBE
B2
1
Schéma d’usage :
gnaw (on) [something]
The puppy sat quietly and gnawed on its bone.
A kiskutya csendben ült, és a csontját rágcsálta.
Beavers gnaw trees to get wood for their dams.
A hódok fákat rágnak, hogy fát szerezzenek a gátjaikhoz.
He gnawed at the tough crust until it finally broke.
Exemples pédagogiques
The dog gnawed on a bone.
A kutya egy csontot rágcsált.
A mouse can gnaw wood.
Az egér meg tudja rágni a fát.
Erreur fréquente :
The spelling has a silent “g” (pronounced like “naw”). Often used with on (gnaw on a bone).
Sens
bite and chew repeatedly
Collocations
gnaw on a bone
|gnaw on a stick
|gnaw on a toy
|gnaw at the meat
|gnawing animal
|gnawing teeth
Synonymes
chew (More general; gnaw suggests repeated biting, often on something hard.)
|
nibble (Usually smaller, lighter bites than gnaw.)
Antonymes
swallow (Taking food down without chewing repeatedly.)
Thèmes
animals
|food
|daily_life
Définition
To chew something again and again.
To bite and chew something repeatedly, especially to remove small pieces from a hard surface.
VERBE
B2
2
Schéma d’usage :
gnaw through [something] / gnaw a hole in [something]
Rats had gnawed through the plastic pipe.
A patkányok átrágták a műanyag csövet.
Something had gnawed a hole in the flour bag.
Valami kirágott egy lyukat a liszteszacskón.
The rabbit gnawed the door frame when it was bored.
Exemples pédagogiques
Mice gnawed through the box.
Az egerek átrágták a dobozt.
Erreur fréquente :
Use through for the result (gnaw through a cable), not *gnaw across.
Sens
damage by chewing a hole
Collocations
gnaw through a wire
|gnaw through a rope
|gnaw through the fence
|gnaw a hole in a bag
|gnaw holes in wood
|rats gnawed through
|mice gnawed the box
Synonymes
chew through (Close in meaning; gnaw emphasizes repeated biting, often by animals.)
Antonymes
mend (Fixing damage rather than causing it.)
Thèmes
animals
|home
|problems
Définition
To chew something until you make a hole or go through it.
To make a hole in something or cut through it by gnawing.
VERBE
C1
3
mardos
C1
Schéma d’usage :
[something] gnaws at [someone]
Doubt gnawed at her all week.
Egész héten mardosta a kétely.
The lie began to gnaw at his conscience.
A hazugság elkezdte mardosni a lelkiismeretét.
A small fear gnawed in the back of his mind.
Exemples pédagogiques
Guilt gnawed at him.
A bűntudat mardosta.
Erreur fréquente :
Commonly used with at (doubt gnawed at her). Also common as an adjective: gnawing doubt.
Sens
worry someone continuously
Collocations
gnawing doubt
|gnawing guilt
|gnawing fear
|gnaw at your conscience
|gnaw at you
|questions gnawed at him
|a suspicion gnawed at her
|hunger gnawed at them
Synonymes
nag (Often used for an irritating thought or worry that keeps returning.)
|
torment (Stronger; suggests more intense suffering.)
|
prey on (Similar metaphor; often used for fears or worries.)
Antonymes
reassure (To remove worry rather than create it.)
|
comfort (To ease distress rather than cause ongoing distress.)
Thèmes
emotions
|mind
|relationships
Définition
If something gnaws at you, you keep thinking about it and it makes you feel bad.
To trouble someone continuously, so that the feeling or thought does not go away.
VERBE
C1
4
kikezd
B2
Schéma d’usage :
[something] gnaws at [something] / gnaw away at [something]
Over decades, the ocean gnawed at the base of the cliff.
Évtizedek alatt az óceán kikezdte a sziklafal alját.
Rising costs gnawed away at the company’s profits.
Az emelkedő költségek kikezdték a cég nyereségét.
Stress can gnaw away at your health if it never stops.
Exemples pédagogiques
The sea gnawed at the rocks.
A tenger kikezdte a sziklákat.
Erreur fréquente :
Often used in figurative writing about money, strength, or resources (costs gnawed at profits).
Sens
wear away gradually
Collocations
the sea gnawed at the cliffs
|time gnaws at
|inflation gnawed at savings
|costs gnawed at profits
|corrosion gnawed at the metal
|gnaw away at the foundation
|gnaw away at support
Synonymes
erode (More formal; often used for land, trust, or power.)
|
wear away (Very close; less vivid than gnaw.)
|
eat away at (Common metaphor for gradual reduction or damage.)
Antonymes
strengthen (To make something stronger rather than weaken it.)
|
build up (To increase or add rather than reduce.)
Thèmes
nature
|business
|change
Définition
To slowly damage or reduce something over time.
To gradually wear away, weaken, or reduce something over time, as if by biting.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
gnaw
API
GB/nˈɔ/
US/nˈɔ/
Syllabes et accentuation
gnaw (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (gnaw)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: gnaw
- 3rd Person Singular: gnaws
- Present Participle: gnawing
- Past: gnawed
Famille de mots
Forms
gnaws
verb
gnawing
verb
gnawed
verb
Related words
gnawer
noun
Expressions
gnaw at
1/nˈɔ ˈæt/
phrasal verb
keep bothering or worrying
To make someone worried for a long time.
Exemples
- The decision gnawed at him for days.
- Even after she apologized, the memory still gnawed at her.
- A feeling of guilt gnawed at the back of his mind.
Exemples pédagogiques
- A doubt gnawed at her.
gnaw away at
1/nˈɔ əwˈeɪ ˈæt/
phrasal verb
gradually reduce or weaken
To slowly make something smaller or weaker.
Exemples
- High fees gnawed away at his savings.
- Waves gnawed away at the sandbank all winter.
- Constant criticism can gnaw away at a person’s confidence.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Costs gnawed away at our budget.
gnaw on
1/nˈɔ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
chew repeatedly on something
To chew something again and again.
Exemples
- The dog gnawed on a bone for hours.
- She absentmindedly gnawed on the end of her pencil.
- The rabbit gnawed on the wooden leg of the chair.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The puppy gnawed on its toy.
gnaw through
1/nˈɔ θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
chew through and make a hole
To chew until you go through something.
Exemples
- Mice gnawed through the cardboard overnight.
- The squirrels gnawed through the netting to reach the fruit.
- A rat had gnawed through the cable and cut the power.
Exemples pédagogiques
- A mouse gnawed through the bag.