maw

noun

ˈmȯ 

1

: the receptacle into which food is taken by swallowing:

a

: stomach

b

: crop

2

a

: the throat, gullet, or jaws especially of a voracious animal

the gaping maw of the tiger

b

: something suggestive of a gaping maw

the dark maw of the cave

Examples of maw in a Sentence

the gaping maw of the tiger

Recent Examples on the Web

Their lips, jaws, and the interior of their maws are—in terms of rigidity—akin to a ceramic dinner plate. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026

Or perhaps an alien predator with a maw of steel has descended on the center of Washington to beam up the executive branch. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 14 June 2026

Quasars are the extremely active supermassive black holes at the heart of some galaxies, furiously feeding on gas that is being shoveled towards their maw, and growing as a result of this voracious feeding. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 June 2026

All these devices had escaped the maw of oblivion. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English maga; akin to Old High German mago stomach, Lithuanian makas purse

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for maw

• aah
• ah
• ahh
• aw
• awe
• bah
• blah
• bra
• caw
• claw
• craw
• daw

Kids Definition

maw

noun

ˈmȯ 

1

: a body part (as a stomach or a crop) that receives swallowed food

2

: the throat, gullet, or jaws especially of a flesh-eating animal