chew

The definition of chew means to use teeth to bite, cut through and grind into smaller pieces, or is slang meaning to reprimand someone.

(verb)

  1. An example of chew is using your teeth to turn large pieces of lettuce into smaller, easier to swallow pieces.
  2. To tell someone off is an example of how to chew someone out.

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See chew in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to bite and grind or crush with the teeth; masticate
  2. Slang to rebuke severely; reprimand: usually with out

Origin: ME chewen < OE ceowan, to bite, chew < IE base *gjeu-, to chew > Pers ǰavidan, Ger kauen

intransitive verb

  1. to chew something
  2. Informal to chew tobacco

noun

  1. the act of chewing
  2. something chewed or for chewing; specif., a portion of tobacco for chewing

Related Forms:

See chew in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb chewed, chew·ing, chews
verb, transitive
  1. To bite and grind with the teeth; masticate.
  2. To meditate on; ponder: chew a problem over.
verb, intransitive
  1. To make a crushing and grinding motion with the teeth.
  2. To cogitate; meditate: chewed on the difficulties ahead.
  3. Informal To use chewing tobacco.
noun
  1. The act of chewing.
  2. Something held in the mouth and chewed, especially a plug of tobacco. See Regional Note at chaw.
Phrasal Verb: chew out Slang To reprimand; scold.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cheuen

Origin: , from Old English cēowan

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Related Forms:

  • chewˈa·ble adjective
  • chewˈer noun

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