1
a
: either of two complex cartilaginous or bony structures in most vertebrates that border the mouth, support the soft parts enclosing it, usually bear teeth on their oral margin, and are an upper that is more or less firmly fused with the skull and a lower that is hinged, movable, and articulated with the temporal bone of either side compare mandible, maxilla
b
: the parts constituting the walls of the mouth and serving to open and close it
—usually used in plural
c
: any of various organs of invertebrates that perform the function of the vertebrate jaws
2
: something resembling the jaw of an animal: such as
a
: either of two or more opposable parts that open and close for holding or crushing something between them
b
: one of the sides of a narrow pass or channel
3
a
: a space lying between or as if between open jaws
escaped from out of the jaws of the whale
b
: a position or situation in which one is threatened
rode into the jaws of danger
4
: a friendly chat
jawed; jawing; jaws
: to talk especially abusively, indignantly, or long-windedly
jawing with the referee
: to talk to in a scolding or boring manner
Examples of jaw in a Sentence
Noun
He broke his upper jaw.
the jaws of a tiger
the jaws of a vise
Verb
The coach was jawing with the referee.
She was on the phone jawing with her sister all night.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Hahn and Jeff Glaid, the WGFD biologist who conducted the study, told a room full of anglers in 2024 that if regulations didn’t change, and hooking injuries to fish — like bottom jaws torn off and severe scarring — continued, the department would have to start restocking in earnest.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Horn has never been shy about jawing at his offensive teammates in practice.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jaw
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Noun
The most jaw-dropping deal of them all is the Patagonia Maipo Dress, a compressive travel dress that’s currently $91 off.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Hahn and Jeff Glaid, the WGFD biologist who conducted the study, told a room full of anglers in 2024 that if regulations didn’t change, and hooking injuries to fish — like bottom jaws torn off and severe scarring — continued, the department would have to start restocking in earnest.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
And Travis Kelce and Reid were jawing at each other again.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Horn has never been shy about jawing at his offensive teammates in practice.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jaw
Cite this Entry
“Jaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jaw. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jaw
1 of 2 noun1
a
: either of two structures of bone or cartilage of vertebrate animals that support the soft parts enclosing the mouth and usually bear teeth
b
: the parts making up the walls of the mouth and serving to open and close it
—usually used in plural
c
: any of various organs of invertebrate animals that serve the same purpose as the jaws of vertebrate animals
2
: something resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action
especially
: one of a set of opposing parts that open and close for holding or crushing something between them
jawed
adjective
ˈjȯd
jaw
2 of 2 verb1
: to talk for a long time
Medical Definition
jaw
noun1
: either of two complex cartilaginous or bony structures in most vertebrates that border the mouth, support the soft parts enclosing it, and usually bear teeth on their oral margin:
a
: an upper structure more or less firmly fused with the skull
called also upper jaw, maxilla
b
: a lower structure that consists of a single bone or of completely fused bones and that is hinged, movable, and articulated by a pair of condyles with the temporal bone of either side
called also inferior maxillary bone, lower jaw, mandible
2
: the parts constituting the walls of the mouth and serving to open and close it
—usually used in plural
3
: any of various organs of invertebrates that perform the function of the vertebrate jaws
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