Used to describe the eating part or entrance of something big and often frightening. The spelunkers entered the maw of the cave with trepidation.
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Vivid Visuals
Creates a strong visual of a mouth or entrance, so it's often used in storytelling or descriptive writing. The maw of the monster seemed as deep and dark as the ocean.
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Not for Humans
Although 'maw' can mean mouth, it's not commonly used for humans, more for animals and figurative uses. The puppy greedily lapped up the milk, its maw dripping with drops.