Etymology : Middle English
Pronunciation : 'jo
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. one or both of the bones which form the framework of the mouth; section around the bones of the jaw, mouth; section of a machine which grips or holds objects; gossip, idle chatter. talk, chat idly, gossip; scold, insult. jaw\jaw\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. jawed ; p. pr. & vb. n. jawing.] to scold; to clamor. [law]jaw \jaw\, v. t. to assail or abuse by scolding. [law]jaw \jaw\ , n. [a modification of chaw, formed under the influence of f. joue the cheek. see:
chaw, chew.].
2. (anat.) (a) one of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth. (b) hence, also, the bone itself with the teeth and covering. (c) in the plural, the mouth.
3. fig.: anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; esp., pl., the mouth or way of entrance; as, the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
4. (mach.) (a) a notch or opening. (b) a notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place; as, the jaw of a railway-car pedestal. see:
axle guard. (b) one of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them, as, the jaws of a vise, or the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
5. (naut.) the inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
6. impudent or abusive talk. [slang] kingsley.jaw bit (railroad), a bar across the jaws of a pedestal underneath an axle box.jaw breaker, a word difficult to pronounce. [obs.]jaw rope (naut.), a rope which holds the jaws of a gaff to the mast.jaw tooth, a molar or grinder; a back tooth.jaw n.
7. the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth.
8. the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth.
9. holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object [syn: jaws] v 1: chew the fat; shoot the breeze [syn: chat, confabulate, confab, chitchat, chatter, chaffer, natter, gossip, claver, visit] 2: talk incessantly and tiresomely [syn: yack, yack away, rattle on , yap away] 3: chew (food); "he jawed his bubble gum"; "chew your food and don't swallow it!"; "the cows were masticating the grass" [syn: chew, masticate, manducate].
10. 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"; "check" is archaic [syn: rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, dress down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out , chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast].
11. One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
12. Hence, also, the bone itself with the teeth and covering.
13. In the plural, the mouth.
14. Fig.: Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; esp., pl., the mouth or way of entrance; as, the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
15. A notch or opening.
16. A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place; as, the jaw of a railway-car pedestal.
17. See Axle guard.
18. One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them, as, the jaws of a vise, or the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
19. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
20. Impudent or abusive talk.
21. To scold; to clamor.
22. To assail or abuse by scolding. holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth.
23. 1. Your jaw is the lower part of your face below your mouth. The movement of your jaw is sometimes considered to express a particular emotion. For example, if your jaw drops, you are very surprised. He thought for a moment, stroking his well-defined jaw.
24. A person's or animal's jaws are the two bones in their head which their teeth are attached to. a forest rodent with powerful jaws.
25. If you talk about the jaws of something unpleasant such as death or hell, you are referring to a dangerous or unpleasant situation. A family dog rescued a newborn boy from the jaws of death. to talk. Either of two bones that frame the mouth: a movable lower jaw (mandible) and a fixed upper jaw (maxilla). These hold the teeth (see:
tooth) and are used for biting and chewing and in speech. Vertical portions at the back of the lower jaw form hinge joints at the temples. The front of its arch thickens to form the chin. The upper jaw is attached to bones at the bridge of the nose, in the eye sockets and roof of the mouth, and the cheekbones. It contains the large maxillary sinus.