(多指动物的)大口、颚;(比喻)吞噬之口、深渊般的“巨口”。(较少见/较旧用法:胃)
/mɔː/(英); /mɔ/(美)
The snake opened its maw and swallowed the mouse.
蛇张开大口,把老鼠吞了下去。
The ship vanished into the maw of the storm, as if the sea itself were eating it.
船消失在暴风雨的巨口中,仿佛大海在把它吞噬。
maw 来自古英语 maga,原意与“胃、内脏”相关,后来词义常扩展为“动物的大嘴/喉咙”,并进一步引申出“像深渊一样能吞噬一切的巨口”(常见于文学与修辞表达中)。