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 by up ):

   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 by over ):

   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. Slang. 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. chew the fat or chew the rag 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

Derived Forms

• ˈchewable, adjective
• ˈchewer, noun

Other Words From

• chewer noun
• un·chewed 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, Informal. 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

The dogs tested a number of flavored and scented chew bones, and either the flavor was too faint, or our dogs are too used to eating actual meaty bones, but they really weren’t interested.

From Outside Online

The best dog vitamins come in many different forms—chews, powders, pills, drops—so consider what will be easiest for you to administer and for your dog to ingest.

From Popular-Science

Two zippered thigh pockets store a phone and a pack of sport chews.

From Outside Online

Refreshed hominy is especially toothsome, with a sweet fragrance and an al dente-like chew.

From Washington Post

You might be a fan of some chew or tenderness, which is fine by me because that’s your business, but I want there to be a snap and a crunch each time a strip passes my lips.

From Washington Post

She narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.

From The Daily Beast

Was it, as some former employees allege, that the bosses bit off more than they could chew?

From The Daily Beast

We continuously pause to pull them out while Zalwar Khan and his companion smirk at us and chew unbothered.

From The Daily Beast

She stares at me like I've asked her how she learned to chew solid food.

From The Daily Beast

They chew this thing, a real thing, they do this until they foam at the mouth.

From The Daily Beast

"All right," said Dan, biting off a big chew from the plug he was holding, and restoring the rest to his pocket.

From Project Gutenberg

If the decision had been against a fight, Dan would have put the plug back without taking a chew.

From Project Gutenberg

They both chew and smoke, and they are certainly the dirtiest chewers in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

If they are depressed, they smoke or chew tobacco, and gladden themselves therewith.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Chew-chew pointed out many herds and they all danced for joy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bite
• chomp
• gnaw
• nibble