gnaw
gb/nˈɔ/ us/nˈɔ/
B2
Kiingereza
rágcsál, rág, átrág, kirág, mardos, kikezd
KITENZI
B2
1
Muundo wa matumizi:
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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The dog gnawed on a bone.
A kutya egy csontot rágcsált.
A mouse can gnaw wood.
Az egér meg tudja rágni a fát.
Kosa la kawaida:
The spelling has a silent “g” (pronounced like “naw”). Often used with on (gnaw on a bone).
Maana
bite and chew repeatedly
Miunganiko ya maneno
gnaw on a bone
|gnaw on a stick
|gnaw on a toy
|gnaw at the meat
|gnawing animal
|gnawing teeth
Visawe
chew (More general; gnaw suggests repeated biting, often on something hard.)
|
nibble (Usually smaller, lighter bites than gnaw.)
Vinyume
swallow (Taking food down without chewing repeatedly.)
Mada
animals
|food
|daily_life
Ufafanuzi
To chew something again and again.
To bite and chew something repeatedly, especially to remove small pieces from a hard surface.
KITENZI
B2
2
Muundo wa matumizi:
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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
Mice gnawed through the box.
Az egerek átrágták a dobozt.
Kosa la kawaida:
Use through for the result (gnaw through a cable), not *gnaw across.
Maana
damage by chewing a hole
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Visawe
chew through (Close in meaning; gnaw emphasizes repeated biting, often by animals.)
Vinyume
mend (Fixing damage rather than causing it.)
Mada
animals
|home
|problems
Ufafanuzi
To chew something until you make a hole or go through it.
To make a hole in something or cut through it by gnawing.
KITENZI
C1
3
mardos
C1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
Guilt gnawed at him.
A bűntudat mardosta.
Kosa la kawaida:
Commonly used with at (doubt gnawed at her). Also common as an adjective: gnawing doubt.
Maana
worry someone continuously
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Visawe
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.)
Vinyume
reassure (To remove worry rather than create it.)
|
comfort (To ease distress rather than cause ongoing distress.)
Mada
emotions
|mind
|relationships
Ufafanuzi
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.
KITENZI
C1
4
kikezd
B2
Muundo wa matumizi:
[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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The sea gnawed at the rocks.
A tenger kikezdte a sziklákat.
Kosa la kawaida:
Often used in figurative writing about money, strength, or resources (costs gnawed at profits).
Maana
wear away gradually
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Visawe
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.)
Vinyume
strengthen (To make something stronger rather than weaken it.)
|
build up (To increase or add rather than reduce.)
Mada
nature
|business
|change
Ufafanuzi
To slowly damage or reduce something over time.
To gradually wear away, weaken, or reduce something over time, as if by biting.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
gnaw
IPA
GB/nˈɔ/
US/nˈɔ/
Silabi na mkazo
gnaw (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (gnaw)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: gnaw
- 3rd Person Singular: gnaws
- Present Participle: gnawing
- Past: gnawed
Familia ya neno
Forms
gnaws
verb
gnawing
verb
gnawed
verb
Related words
gnawer
noun
Semi
gnaw at
1/nˈɔ ˈæt/
phrasal verb
keep bothering or worrying
To make someone worried for a long time.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Costs gnawed away at our budget.
gnaw on
1/nˈɔ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
chew repeatedly on something
To chew something again and again.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- A mouse gnawed through the bag.