Read the passage below and answer the question!

    Once upon a time, a flock of doves led by their king flew to search for food. The smallest dove saw rice scattered beneath a banyan tree. All the doves landed and began to eat.

    Suddenly, a net fell over them and they were all trapped. They saw a man approaching them. The doves desperately fluttered their wings to try to get out, but they failed. The king had an idea. He advised all the doves to fly up together carrying the net with them.

    Each dove picked up a portion of the net and together they flew off carrying the net with them. The man tried to follow them, but they flew high over hills and valleys. They flew to a hill near a temple where there lived mice. They were the king's friends.

    The mice were shocked seeing the doves under the net. They ran to the dove and offered help, "Let me help you escape from the net." 

    The king answered, “Sure. That's very kind of you."

    They gnawed the net and one by one all the doves were freed. The doves thanked the mice and flew away together, united in their strength.

(Adopted from: https:/lwww.moralstories.org/unity-is-strength/ (March 1 5, 2019))

"They gnawed the net and one by one all the doves were freed." (Last paragraph)

What is the similar meaning of the underlined word?