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

Most directors, by peering into a gas chamber or the maw of an oven, mean to remind us, as the actor-director Roberto Benigni once obscenely put it, that Life Is Beautiful. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2024

The scientists debut as heroes, saving Carol and Ash from their certain death at the maws of the marsh walkers. —Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Back in 2012, some years before her husband, Donald Trump, was elected President of the United States, Melania Trump tweeted a picture of a beluga whale, its glistening white head emerging from the water, its toothy maw open in a half grin. —Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024

On the way inside, a life-size mimic—with its menacing and toothy maw—is noticeable from across the room. —Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024

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

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