What does gnash mean?
Word: Gnash
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Gnash means to press your top and bottom teeth together hard and rub them, often in anger.
How do you spell gnash?
Syllables: gnash
Tricky part: The g is silent, so the word sounds as if it begins with n, and students write nash or knash.
Watch out for: nash, knash
Memory tip: Think of a Gentle G standing at the door of the word and saying nothing at all.
Idioms and Phrases
- gnash your teeth: to feel very cross and upset, especially because you cannot have what you want. Example: "Our captain will gnash his teeth when he hears the match has been moved again."
Gnash in a sentence
Example 1: The lion in the cartoon began to gnash its teeth at the clever mouse.
Example 2: Some babies gnash their new teeth in their sleep.
Example 3: In the school play, the giant had to roar and gnash his teeth.
Fun Fact
The word probably came from Old Norse, and experts think it copied the harsh noise that teeth can make.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
gn_s_
a) a, k
b) e, h
c) a, h
d) u, h
Show answer
c) a, h. The vowel is the short a of cash, and the closing sound is the one in cash too.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
gnash
a) swallow
b) open
c) brush
d) grind
Show answer
d) grind. When you grind your teeth they scrape hard against each other, which is what this verb describes.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
gnassh
a) h
b) g
c) s
d) n
Show answer
c) s. The sh sound needs one s and one h, so the second s must go.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) rubarb
b) gastly
c) gnash
d) sutle
Show answer
c) gnash. Rhubarb, subtle and ghastly each carry a silent letter that has been left out of these three.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In a story, the king gnashes his teeth when his plan fails. How is he feeling?
a) furious and let down
b) sleepy and calm
c) curious and amused
d) proud and cheerful
Show answer
a) furious and let down
2. Which part of the body moves when you gnash?
a) the ankle
b) the knee
c) the jaw
d) the elbow
Show answer
c) the jaw
