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1. The part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
    
2. The bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
    
3. Holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object

1. Talk socially without exchanging too much information
   - chew the fat, shoot the breeze [N. Amer], chat, confabulate, confab, chitchat, chit-chat, chatter, chaffer, natter, gossip, claver [UK, dialect], visit, gas, gab
    
2. Talk incessantly and tiresomely
   - yack, yack away, rattle on, yap away, yak
    
3. Chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
   "He jawed his bubble gum"
   - chew, masticate, manducate
    
4. Censure severely or angrily
   - call on the carpet [US], take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out, chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer]

Derived forms: jawing, jaws, jawed

See also: maxillomandibular

Type of: bone, converse, criticise [Brit], criticize, discourse, feature, grate, grind, holding device, knock, lineament, mouth, os[2], pick apart, speak, talk, utter, verbalise [Brit], verbalize

Part of: alligator clip [N. Amer], bench vice, bench vise [US], bulldog clip, chuck, crocodile clip [Brit], face, human face, pair of pliers, pliers, plyers, skull, spanner [Brit], vice, vise [US], wrench

Encyclopedia: Jaw