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

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

That is the makings of a bad habit—a fast-track to chewing tobacco, which is directly linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma, a horrible disease.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Most wannabe activists have been chewed up and spit out by the rising market, which has imposed losses on many short sellers.

Read more on Barron's

She said he was in "constant" pain, his epilepsy had worsened, he was at risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, and he struggled to chew food, sometimes leading to choking.

Read more on BBC

The Irish singer said she cannot "chew any food" and "can barely think straight" due to the pain.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bite 
• chomp 
• gnaw 
• nibble