ronger
gnaw
Mordre petit à petit quelque chose avec les dents jusqu’à l’user ou le réduire.
Definition & meaning
Ronger means to gnaw: to wear away or eat something by repeatedly biting it.
It also has figurative meanings:
- To corrode or eat away at something gradually.
- To torment or consume someone, as with worry, guilt, or jealousy.
Grammar & Word origin
Ronger is a regular -er verb. It is a spelling-change verb: the e is retained before a or o to keep the soft “g” sound, as in nous rongeons.
It comes from Latin rodere, meaning “to gnaw.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- grignoter — to nibble; it suggests taking small bites rather than steadily wearing something away.
- mordiller — to nibble or bite gently and repeatedly.
- corroder — to corrode, especially through a chemical process.
- apaiser — to soothe; an antonym in the figurative sense of tormenting someone.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Cet animal peut ronger du bois facilement.verb
This animal can gnaw wood easily.
Pendant l’orage, elle a commencé à ronger ses ongles sans s’en rendre compte.verb
During the storm, she started to gnaw her nails without realizing it.
Pourquoi continues-tu à ronger ce vieux stylo pendant la réunion ?verb
Why do you keep gnawing that old pen during the meeting?
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