noun
maw
maw
noun
1
The stomach or throat of an animal, especially a large or fearsome one.
"The whale's enormous maw could swallow a small boat whole."
2
Any large opening that seems to swallow things up.
"The old mine shaft opened like a dark maw in the hillside."
How to Use Maw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dramatic, old-fashioned word for a creature's stomach or mouth, or any gaping, swallowing-looking opening.
When to use it
Mostly used in literary or dramatic writing rather than everyday speech.
Common pairings
the maw of the beast
a gaping maw
Word Forms
maws plural, maws plural, maws plural, Maws plural
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The whale's enormous _____ could swallow a small boat whole.
Etymology
From Old English maga, "stomach," related to German Magen and Dutch maag — all going back to a very old Germanic word for "belly."