chew Hear it!

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chew definition

chew (c̸ho̵̅o̅)

transitive verb

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

Etymology: 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:

chew Idioms

chew over

  1. to think over; consider
  2. to discuss at length

chew the rag

or chew the fat
Slang to converse idly; chat

chew the scenery

Informal to overact, as in a play or film

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms chew idiom

chew Synonyms

chew

v.

bite, chomp, champ, munch, crunch, masticate, nibble, nibble at, feast upon, gnaw, gulp, dispatch, grind, chew the cud, rend, gnash, crush, scrunch, ruminate; see also eat 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chew Usage Examples

Object

  • gum: I gave them a stick of chewing gum between them for their trouble.

Preposition: through

  • cable: I hope the parrot isn't attempting to chew through the TV power cable again.

Modifying Another Word

  • slowly: It was all she could do to chew slowly, without the strength even to open her eyes.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • over: Been chewing over whether to take up the big zine summons or not.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • over: I had a chance to chew over this subject with some old soldiers gathered together at a local D-Day commemoration.

Preposition: of

  • gum: Elizabeth Aveling explains The chewing of gum is often thought of as a modern habit, imported to Europe from America this century.

Noun used with modifier

  • dog: If the dog chews the lead during a settle, spray the lead with bitter apple.
chew usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"chew." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/chew>

APA Style

chew. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/chew

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