jaw

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Either of two bony or cartilaginous structures that in most vertebrates form the framework of the mouth and hold the teeth.
2. n. The mandible or maxilla or the part of the face covering these bones.
3. n. Any of various structures of invertebrates that have an analogous function to vertebrate jaws.
4. n. Either of two opposed hinged parts in a mechanical device.
5. n. The walls of a pass, canyon, or cavern.
6. n. A dangerous situation or confrontation: the jaws of death.
7. n. Slang Impudent argument or back talk: Don't give me any jaw.
8. n. Slang A conversation or chat.
9. v. Slang To talk vociferously; jabber.
10. v. Slang To talk; converse.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One of the bones which form the skeleton or framework of the mouth; a maxilla or mandible; these bones collectively. The jaws in nearly all vertebrates are two in number, the upper and the lower. The upper jaw on each side consists chiefly of the superior maxillary or supramaxilla, and of an intermaxillary bone or premaxilia, both of which commonly bear teeth in mammals, reptiles, batrachians, and some fossil birds. The lower jaw in mammals is a single bone, the inframaxillary, inframaxilla, or mandible, or one pair of bones united at the middle line by a symphysis. In vertebrates below mammals this bone is represented by several pieces, its bony elements becoming quite complex in birds and most reptiles and many fishes. The mandible, and especially its terminal element when there are several, commonly bears teeth like the upper jaw. As a rule, it is movably articulated with the rest of the skull. In mammals this articulation is direct, and is known as the temporomaxiillary. In birds it is indirect, by intervention of a quadrate bone; and in the lower vertebrates various other modifications occur. See cuts under Cyclodus, Gallinæ, Felidæ, and skull.
2. n. The bones and associated structures of the mouth, as the teeth and soft parts, taken together as instruments of prehension and mastication; mouth-parts in general: commonly in the plural. In most invertebrates, as insects and crustaceans, the jaws are much complicated, and consist essentially of modified limbs, maxillipeds, gnathopods, or jaw-feet; and the opposite parts work upon each other sidewise, not up and down. Often used figuratively. See cut under mouth-part.
3. n. Something resembling in position or use, in grasping or biting, the jaw or jaws of an animal. Nautical, the hollowed or semicircular inner end of a boom or gaff. See gaff, 2.
4. n. [⟨ jaw, verb] Rude loquacity; coarse railing; abusive clamor; wrangling.
5. To talk or gossip; also, to scold; clamor.
6. To seize with the jaws; bite; devour.
7. To abuse by scolding; use impertinent or Impudent language toward.
8. To pour out; throw or dash out rapidly, and in considerable quantity, as a liquid; splash; dash.
9. To splash; dash, as a wave.
10. n. A considerable quantity of any liquid; a wave.

Wiktionary

1. n. One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
2. n. Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; especially plural, the mouth or way of entrance; as, the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
3. n. A notch or opening.
4. n. A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place; as, the jaw of a railway-car pedestal. See Axle guard.
5. n. One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them, as, the jaws of a vise, or the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
6. n. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
7. n. Impudent or abusive talk.
8. n. Axle guard.
9. v. To assail or abuse by scolding.
10. v. To scold; to clamor.
11. v. To talk; to converse.
12. v. (of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
2. n. Hence, also, the bone itself with the teeth and covering.
3. n. In the plural, the mouth.
4. n. Fig.: Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; esp., pl., the mouth or way of entrance.
5. n. A notch or opening.
6. n. A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place. See Axle guard.
7. n. One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them, .
8. n. The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
9. n. Impudent or abusive talk.
10. v. To scold; to clamor.
11. v. To talk idly, long-windedly, or without special purpose.
12. v. To assail or abuse by scolding.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
2. v. talk incessantly and tiresomely
3. n. the bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
4. n. holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
5. v. chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
6. v. censure severely or angrily
7. v. talk socially without exchanging too much information