/nɔ:; nɔ/
v
1 [Ipr, Tn] ~ (at) sth bite sth hard continually until it is worn away 不断地啃, 咬, 啮硬物（直至啃掉、咬去、啮断）
*a dog gnawing (at) a bone 啃着骨头的狗
* a boy gnawing his fingernails 咬着指甲的男孩.
2 [Ipr, Ip, Tn] ~ (at) sb/sth (fig 比喻) cause sb/sth continual distress and torment 使某人苦恼; 使某事物受折磨
*fear and anxiety gnawing (at) one's heart 心中受着恐惧和不安的折磨
* the gnawing pains of hunger 饥饿引起的绞痛
* guilt gnawing (away) at one's conscience 使良心不安的罪愆.
3 (phr v) gnaw sth away/off destroy sth gradually by gnawing 啃掉或咬坏某物
*Rats gnawed off the lid of the box. 老鼠啃坏了箱盖.

v [I,T always + adverb/preposition]
[Language: Old English;Origin: gnagan]
to keep biting something hard
= chew
　Dexter gnawed his pen thoughtfully.
　A rat had gnawed a hole in the box.
gnaw at/on
　The puppy was gnawing on a bone.
gnaw (away) at / [gnaw (away) at sb/sth] phr v
to make someone feel worried or frightened, over a period of time
　Something was gnawing at the back of his mind.
　Doubt was gnawing away at her confidence.