English Lexicon

Jaws

/dʒɔːz/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The lower and upper bony structures in the mouth that hold the teeth and are used for biting and chewing.

    "The shark's powerful jaws can crush bones with ease."
  2. 2

    A similar structure in animals, often used metaphorically to describe a gripping or enclosing mechanism.

    "The jaws of the trap closed quickly, capturing the unsuspecting prey."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'jaws' originates from the Old English 'ceaf', which evolved into 'jaw' in Middle English. The term has Germanic roots, related to the Dutch 'kaak' and German 'Kiefer', referring to the bony structure that holds teeth and facilitates chewing.

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