Webster's English Dictionary

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gnaw

gnaw \'no.\ \'no.(-*)r\ vb [ME gnawen, fr. OE gnagan; akin to OHG gnagan to 
   gnaw] 1a: to bite or chew on with the teeth; esp : to wear away by persi 
   stent biting or nibbling {dog ~ing a bone} 1b: to make by gnawing {rats ~ed 
   a hole}  2a: to be a source of vexation to : PLAGUE  2b: to affect like 
   gnawing  3: ERODE, CORRODE  1: to bite or nibble persistently  2: to 
   destroy or reduce as if by gnawing  - gnaw.er n