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Spell Bee Word: Gnaw

Gnaw (verb): to bite or chew at something again and again, wearing it away bit by bit. A worry can also gnaw at you when it troubles you for a long time.


What does gnaw mean?

Word: Gnaw

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: Gnaw means to bite or chew at something again and again, wearing it away bit by bit. A worry can also gnaw at you when it troubles you for a long time.

Synonyms: nibble, bite

Sounds like: nor (used after neither, as in neither tea nor coffee)

How do you spell gnaw?

Syllables: gnaw

Tricky part: The g at the start is silent, so the word sounds exactly like nor, and children who spell by sound often leave the g off.

Watch out for: knaw, gnor, gnawe

Memory tip: Gnaw and gnat are both short words that open with a silent g: sound the g in your head as you write it.

Gnaw in a sentence

Example 1: The puppy likes to gnaw on an old slipper when nobody is watching.

Example 2: Rats had gnawed a hole through the sack of rice in the storeroom.

Example 3: A small worry about the science test began to gnaw at Meera all evening.

Fun Fact

Rats, squirrels and other rodents have to gnaw: their front teeth never stop growing, and gnawing keeps them short.

Practise the CREST Way

Spell-o-Spell

Choose the correctly spelt word:

a) biscit
b) gnaw
c) tounge
d) squirel

Show answer

b) gnaw. Tongue ends in ue, squirrel doubles its r and biscuit has a u, so gnaw is the one spelt right.

Word Connection

Choose the synonym of the word:

gnaw

a) spit
b) sip
c) swallow
d) chew

Show answer

d) chew. To gnaw is to chew hard and for a long time.

Word Cookie

Find the extra letter in the word:

gnauw

a) g
b) w
c) a
d) u

Show answer

d) u. The sound at the end is written aw on its own, as in jaw and paw.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of these animals is a rodent, built for gnawing?

a) a hedgehog
b) a porcupine
c) a shrew
d) a mole

Show answer

b) a porcupine

2. Which animal would you expect to gnaw through a wooden log?

a) a lizard
b) a frog
c) a crow
d) a beaver

Show answer

d) a beaver

Associated Words

Related words on the Spell Bee lists: nibble

More words from this list

legislator, paediatrician, schooling, unbending, admiration, biochemist, consolidation, effervescent

Next steps

How to participate in CREST International Spell Bee

The CREST International Spell Bee (CSB) is conducted in two editions – CREST International Spell Bee - Summer (CSB) and CREST International Spell Bee - Winter (CSBW) – giving students across the globe an opportunity to showcase and enhance their spelling proficiency. Designed for young learners from Senior KG to Class 8, the competition focuses on word-building, pronunciation, and vocabulary enrichment, helping students develop strong linguistic skills.

Steps to Participate:

Step 1: Visit the registration page and complete the registration with your desired subject.

Step 2: After Registration done, do login at www.crestolympiads.com/login.

Step 3: After login, go to dashboard and click on Book slot/Take Exam

Step 4: Schedule your exam date and preferred time.

Step 5: Log in with your credentials on the exam day at the scheduled time and take the exam.

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