English▸ noun
1 each of the upper and lower bony structures in vertebrates forming the framework of the mouth and containing the teeth.
▪ the lower movable bone of the jaw, or the part of the face containing it:
she suffered a broken jaw.
▪ (jaws) the mouth with its bones and teeth.
▪ (jaws) the grasping, biting, or crushing mouthparts of an invertebrate.
▪ (jaws) the gripping parts of a tool or machine, such as a wrench or vice.
▪ (jaws) the grasping or destructive power of something:
victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat.
▪ (jaws) an opening likened to a mouth:
a passenger stepping from the jaws of a car ferry.
2 [mass noun] informal talk or gossip, especially when lengthy or tedious:
committee work is just endless jaw.
▸ verb [no object] informal talk at length; chatter:
I was too busy to spend time jawing with the rest of the crew.
– ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French joe ‘cheek, jaw’, of unknown origin.