chew

[choo]

verb (used with object)

1. to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate.

2. to crush, damage, injure, etc., as if by chewing (often followed byup ).

   The faulty paper feeder chewed the letters up.

3. to make by or as if by chewing.

   The puppy chewed a hole in my slipper.

4. to meditate on; consider deliberately (often followed byover ).

   He chewed the problem over in his mind.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the act of crushing or grinding with the teeth.

2. Informal.,  to chew tobacco.

3. to meditate.

noun

1. an act or instance of chewing.

2. something chewed or intended for chewing.

   a chew of tobacco; taffy chews.

verb phrase

1. chew out,  to scold harshly.

   The sergeant chewed out the recruits.

chew

/ tʃuː /

verb

1. to work the jaws and teeth in order to grind (food); masticate

2. to bite repeatedly

   she chewed her nails anxiously

3. (intr) to use chewing tobacco

4. slang

   1. to argue over a point

   2. to talk idly; gossip

noun

1. the act of chewing

2. something that is chewed

   a chew of tobacco

Other Word Forms

• chewer noun
• unchewed adjective
• well-chewed adjective
• chewable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chew¹

before 1000; Middle English chewen, Old English cēowan; cognate with Old High German kiuwan ( German kauen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chew¹

Old English ceowan; related to Old High German kiuwan, Dutch kauwen, Latin gingīva a gum

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chew the fat, to converse at length in a relaxed manner; chat: Also chew the rag.

   They liked to sit around chewing the fat.

More idioms and phrases containing chew

• bite off more than one can chew

Example Sentences

Of these, about 22,000 hectares are legal -- grown to be chewed as a stimulant, brewed into a tea thought to combat altitude sickness or used in religious rituals.

Read more on Barron's

As you chew, the cardamom bits send out little bolts of flavor, suffusing the cake with a lovely scent of spice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Myers unpacks one of the most dominant runs in American sports, leaving readers with plenty to chew over during bar stool arguments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There have been plenty of memories to chew over, along with the meat.

Read more on BBC

I think some of the young ones are biting off a lot more than I think I could even chew with this experience.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bite 
• chomp 
• gnaw 
• nibble