: 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
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
Noun
Film Festival ahead of a fall release via Sony Pictures Classics, begins in Mexico with a jaw-dropping flamenco number that showcases Marina Tamayo as Carmen’s mother on the grounds of the family’s house. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Built in 1916 to mimic a jaw-dropping Italian Renaissance estate, this landmark villa is nestled among a 10-acre waterfront garden that calls to mind a tropical Versailles. Christina Pérez, ELLE, 7 Sep. 2022 The jaw-dropping visuals begin with a gorgeous look at Valinor, the Undying Lands where the Elves reside, and continue all the way through an impressively tense horror sequence in the second episode shot like something out of an Insidious movie. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 31 Aug. 2022 At the time, Fox showed up in a jaw-dropping sheer, sparkling Mugler gown and metallic thong, styled with a wet hair look—à la Kim Kardashian at the 2016 VMAs. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 The new Esencia Mansion spans a jaw-dropping 12,000 square feet and comes with four suites to sleep up to eight of your crew. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2022 In the final movements, Breaking Dawn — Part 2 does walk back its wilder elements, but retains much credit for consistently delivering jaw-dropping moments of shocking violence as well as comedy. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Check out the actor’s latest jaw-dropping cover photos. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 25 Aug. 2022 Yet none of those was the most jaw-dropping moment for McAlister. Etan Smallman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2022
Verb
Americans stand to lose more than a congenial place to jaw with one another while buying food and hardware, said Audrey Yoder, who co-owns the Yoder Store with her husband Paul off South Kropf Road near Molalla. Tom Henderson | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 21 Apr. 2022 The two continued to jaw at each other in the penalty box, and Tkachuk again showed his hands to a referee. Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2021 Fans who are used to jaw-dropping quarterback play would have to get used to average play from a middling veteran or inconsistent play from Love. Tom Silverstein, USA TODAY, 4 May 2021 Both players were eventually separated, though the bad blood spilled into the postgame locker room, as both players continued to jaw at each other. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 4 May 2021 When the Battle of Ohio’s venue is at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 25, more Browns and Bengals fans will be able to jaw at each other. Cameron Fields, cleveland, 8 Oct. 2020 Bertin and Forbes ditch most of the gumshoes, sending just a pair of them (Pauline, jut-jawed Brennan) on a fresh and equally loopy adventure.New York Times, 14 Feb. 2020 Yasiel Puig, who had just been traded to the Indians, continued to jaw at Pirates players as he was being pulled away from the dugout. Alaa Abdeldaiem, SI.com, 30 July 2019 With the Clippers leading by 17 points - their largest lead at 65-48 in the second quarter - Ben McLemore shoved Patrick Beverley from behind and Beverley shoved him back before Russell Westbrook pulled them apart after both had been jawing plenty. Jill Painter Lopez, Houston Chronicle, 20 Dec. 2019 See More