1. The part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
   "The boxer suffered a broken jaw during the fight"
    
2. The bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
   "He clenched his jaw in determination"
    
3. Holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
   "He tightened the vice's jaws around the piece of wood"

1. Talk socially without exchanging too much information
   "the men were sitting in the cafe and jawing";
   - chew the fat [informal], shoot the breeze [N. Amer, informal], chat, confabulate, confab [informal], chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chatter, chaffer, natter [informal], gossip, claver [UK, dialect], visit [N. Amer, informal], gas [informal], chew the rag [informal], gab [informal], chinwag [Brit, informal]
    
2. Talk incessantly and tiresomely
   "The teenagers jawed away on their phones for hours";
   - yack [informal], yack away [informal], rattle on [informal], yap away [informal], yak [informal]
    
3. Censure severely or angrily
   "My mother jawed me about my grades";
   - call on the carpet [US, informal], take to task, rebuke, rag [informal], trounce, lecture, reprimand, dress down [informal], call down [informal], scold, chide, berate, bawl out [informal], chew out [N. Amer, informal], chew up [N. Amer, informal], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer, informal], wig [Brit, informal], carpet [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: jaws, jawed, jawing

See also: rattle

Type of: bone, converse, criticise [Brit], criticize, damn [informal], discourse, feature, holding device, knock [informal], lineament, mouth, os[2], pick apart, speak, talk, utter, verbalise [Brit], verbalize

Part of: alligator clip [N. Amer], bench vice, bench vise [US], bulldog clip, chuck, crocodile clip [Brit], face, human face, pair of pliers, pliers, plyers, skull, spanner [Brit], vice, vise [US], wrench

Encyclopedia: Jaw