jaw
jaw — noun
1. the bottom part of a person's or animal's face, below the mouth, that contains t
the bottom part of a person's or animal's face, below the mouth, that contains the lower teeth and moves up and down when speaking or eating
Pim clenched his jaw tightly when the doctor gave him the injection.
collocation: clench your jaw (showing tension)
The boxer's jaw was swollen after receiving a punch in the final round.
Resting her chin on her hand, Sumin felt her jaw relax to the music.
describing a relaxed or resting position
His jaw went stiff from tension during the long job interview.
- clench your jaw
- set your jaw
- square your jaw
- jaw muscles
- broken jaw
Usage Note
The jaw moves when you talk, eat, or show emotion. Expressions like 'clench one's jaw' or 'set one's jaw' indicate anger, tension, or determination.
Common Mistakes
2. one of a pair of curved bones inside the mouth that support the teeth and shape
one of a pair of curved bones inside the mouth that support the teeth and shape the mouth opening
The dentist examined Gita's upper jaw and found a small cavity near her back tooth.
collocation: upper jaw / lower jaw
Adina's lower jaw was wired shut for six weeks after the surgery.
In mammals the lower jaw contains a single bone called the mandible.
anatomical context
Christopher needed surgery to fix a problem in his upper jaw bone.
- upper jaw
- lower jaw
- broken jaw
- jaw fracture
- jawbone
Usage Note
Often preceded by 'upper' or 'lower' to specify which of the two bones. In anatomy, the lower jaw bone is called the mandible and the upper jaw bone is the maxilla.
Common Mistakes
3. the mouth of an animal, especially one that is large or frightening, thought of
the mouth of an animal, especially one that is large or frightening, thought of as an opening that can bite or grab
The crocodile's powerful jaws snapped shut as it caught the fish.
usually plural for animal mouth
The lioness carried her cub gently in her jaws to a safer spot.
The dog's jaw trembled as it carried the stick back for its owner.
The tiger held the meat tight in its jaws and walked away slowly.
- powerful jaws
- snapping jaws
- in its jaws
- jaws of a ...
Usage Note
For large or frightening animals, 'jaws' (plural) is more common than 'jaw'. The singular form can be used when referring to one side of the mouth.
Common Mistakes
4. a part on a device that presses against another part to grip, cut, or hold items
a part on a device that presses against another part to grip, cut, or hold items firmly
The mechanic adjusted the vice jaws so they held the metal pipe without crushing it.
mechanical context: tool parts that grip
Nia carefully placed the wooden block between the clamp jaws and tightened the screw.
The wrench has adjustable jaws that can fit different sizes of nut.
Pim set the drill bit tightly between the chuck jaws before starting the motor.
- jaws of a vice
- jaws of a clamp
- adjustable jaws
- gripping jaws
Usage Note
Typically used in the plural ('jaws') when referring to the pair of gripping parts. Common in descriptions of workshop tools (vice, clamp, pliers, wrench) and industrial machinery.
5. a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which someone or something is barely ab
a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which someone or something is barely able to escape, as if caught in the mouth of a predator
The rescue team pulled the climbers from the jaws of death before the avalanche hit.
idiomatic phrase: the jaws of death
The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-minute goal.
idiomatic phrase: snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
Beatrix found herself in the jaws of a financial crisis that nearly destroyed her business.
The small bank was pulled from the jaws of collapse by a government loan.
- the jaws of death
- the jaws of defeat
- from the jaws of
- in the jaws of
Usage Note
Almost always appears in fixed figurative phrases: 'the jaws of death', 'the jaws of defeat', 'the jaws of a crisis'. The image is of being caught in a predator's mouth and barely escaping.
Common Mistakes
6. a long, friendly conversation, especially one about everyday matters that is not
a long, friendly conversation, especially one about everyday matters that is not very serious
Christopher had a good jaw with his neighbour about the local election results.
informal use: have a jaw
The two friends sat on the porch and enjoyed a long jaw about old times.
The old men met for a jaw at the cafe every Saturday morning.
Ife and Vivek had a quick jaw between classes about their weekend plans.
- have a jaw
- a long jaw
- a good jaw
Usage Note
Chiefly British informal use. Often appears in the phrase 'have a jaw' meaning 'have a chat'. Less common in American English, where 'chat' or 'talk' is preferred.
7. the narrow opening or entrance to a cave, tunnel, valley, or other enclosed spac
the narrow opening or entrance to a cave, tunnel, valley, or other enclosed space, especially one that seems dangerous or threatening
The explorers stepped into the jaws of the cave, torches cutting through the dark.
the jaws of [a cave/tunnel/valley]
The narrow road passed through the jaws of the mountain pass with steep cliffs.
The train disappeared into the jaws of the tunnel and the noise faded away.
The hikers camped just outside the jaws of the canyon, sheltered from the wind.
- the jaws of the cave
- the jaws of the tunnel
- the jaws of the valley
Usage Note
Always uses the plural form 'jaws' in the structure 'the jaws of + [geographical feature]'. Literary or dramatic in tone; not used in everyday conversation.
sb's jaw drops
idiomused to describe a moment when someone is suddenly very surprised, shocked, or amazed
When Vivek heard the price of the apartment, his jaw nearly hit the floor.
My jaw dropped when I saw how much weight Ife had lost since the summer.
the jaws of death
idioma situation in which someone is about to die or face something extremely dangerous, but is saved at the last moment
The firefighters pulled the child from the jaws of death just as the building collapsed.
The hikers were rescued from the jaws of death after three days lost in the frozen mountains.
to win or succeed at the very last moment when it seemed certain that you would lose or fail
The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by scoring twice in the final three minutes.
Hamza snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he won the debate with a final powerful argument.
This expression describes a person's sudden look of surprise, shock, or disappointment.
When Maya heard the news, her jaw dropped in disbelief.
Did your jaw sag when you saw the final score?
This phrase refers to a very dangerous or unpleasant situation that someone barely avoids.
The hiker escaped from the jaws of death by a narrow margin.
The team pulled victory from the jaws of defeat in the last minute.
This expression means the narrow entrance to a tunnel or similar place, often seeming dangerous.
The car slowly entered the jaws of the dark tunnel.
Standing at the jaws of the cave, Diego felt a chill.
jaw — verb
1. to speak at great length, usually in a relaxed manner about everyday subjects
to speak at great length, usually in a relaxed manner about everyday subjects
The neighbours jawed about the weather and local gossip for an hour.
jaw + about [topic]
Élise and her cousin jawed on the phone until late into the night.
The old men jawed away the afternoon on the park bench, watching people go by.
jaw away (spend time talking)
Hamza and Ife jawed about football for hours after the match ended.
Grammar Patterns
jaw + (about something)
jaw + on
Usage Note
Always intransitive — you 'jaw about' something, or 'jaw with' someone. You cannot 'jaw something' (no direct object). More common in British and Australian English than American.
Common Mistakes
2. to speak to someone in an angry or annoyed way, usually to criticise or complain
to speak to someone in an angry or annoyed way, usually to criticise or complain about their behaviour
The manager jawed at the staff for arriving late to the meeting.
jaw + at + someone (angry talk)
Gita's grandmother jawed her for not calling home while she was travelling.
The coach jawed the players in the locker room after their poor game.
Adina's dad jawed at her for leaving the front door unlocked all night.
- praise
to express approval, the opposite of criticising
Grammar Patterns
jaw + at + someone
Usage Note
Can be used transitively ('jaw someone' = scold someone) or with 'at' ('jaw at someone'). The 'at' version emphasises the direction of the anger rather than the effect on the person.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- jawbonenounB1
- jaw-droppingadjectiveC1
- jaw-droppinglyadverbC1
- jawlessadjectiveC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words relate to the mouth area, but each picks out a different part or tone. 'Chin' (A2) is the everyday word for the bony front tip of the lower jaw — the part that sticks out below your mouth. 'Jawbone' (B1) refers specifically to the bone itself, not the surrounding flesh, and is the usual non-technical term. 'Mandible' (C1) is the formal anatomical name for the lower jawbone only; you will hear it at the dentist or in biology class but rarely in conversation. 'Maw' (C2) is literary and refers to an animal's mouth or stomach, especially a large, frightening one — 'the maw of the beast.' In a sentence: 'Pim rubbed his chin thoughtfully while the dentist explained the fracture in his jawbone. The medical diagram labelled the lower jawbone as the mandible, but the fishing story described the shark's enormous maw.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- upper jaw
- lower jaw
- broken jaw
Phrases
- jaws of death
- jaws of defeat
- jaw-dropping
- jaw-droppingly
Prepositions
- in the jaws of
- from the jaws of
Etymology
The word 'jaw' entered English around the 1300s, likely from Old French 'joue' meaning 'cheek', which itself came from Latin 'gabata' meaning 'bowl' or 'dish'. The connection is that the cheek and jaw form a bowl-like hollow in the face. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'cheek' to the whole structure of the mouth, including the bones and the moving lower part. The figurative senses — 'jaws of death', mechanical 'jaws' — developed in the 1500s and 1600s, drawing on the image of an animal's mouth closing around its prey.