chew
to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate.
to crush, damage, injure, etc., as if by chewing (often followed by up): The faulty paper feeder chewed the letters up.
to make by or as if by chewing: The puppy chewed a hole in my slipper.
to meditate on; consider deliberately (often followed by over): He chewed the problem over in his mind.
to perform the act of crushing or grinding with the teeth.
Informal. to chew tobacco.
to meditate.
an act or instance of chewing.
something chewed or intended for chewing: a chew of tobacco; taffy chews.
chew out, Slang. to scold harshly: The sergeant chewed out the recruits.
Idioms about chew
chew the fat, Informal. to converse at length in a relaxed manner; chat: They liked to sit around chewing the fat.: Also chew the rag.
Origin of chew
1Other words from chew
- chewer, noun
- un·chewed, adjective
- well-chewed, adjective
Words that may be confused with chew
- chews , choose
Words Nearby chew
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use chew in a sentence
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.
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.
Best dog vitamins: Nutrients and supplements to boost your pet’s health | Irena Collaku | June 16, 2021 | Popular-ScienceTwo zippered thigh pockets store a phone and a pack of sport chews.
Refreshed hominy is especially toothsome, with a sweet fragrance and an al dente-like chew.
This vegan pozole verde highlights the subtly sweet flavors of corn | Daniela Galarza | May 20, 2021 | Washington PostYou 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.
She narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWas it, as some former employees allege, that the bosses bit off more than they could chew?
We continuously pause to pull them out while Zalwar Khan and his companion smirk at us and chew unbothered.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley | Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman | November 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe stares at me like I've asked her how she learned to chew solid food.
They chew this thing, a real thing, they do this until they foam at the mouth.
"All right," said Dan, biting off a big chew from the plug he was holding, and restoring the rest to his pocket.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnIf the decision had been against a fight, Dan would have put the plug back without taking a chew.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnThey both chew and smoke, and they are certainly the dirtiest chewers in the world.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.If they are depressed, they smoke or chew tobacco, and gladden themselves therewith.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Then chew-chew pointed out many herds and they all danced for joy.
The Later Cave-Men | Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
British Dictionary definitions for chew
/ (tʃuː) /
to work the jaws and teeth in order to grind (food); masticate
to bite repeatedly: she chewed her nails anxiously
(intr) to use chewing tobacco
chew the fat or chew the rag slang
to argue over a point
to talk idly; gossip
the act of chewing
something that is chewed: a chew of tobacco
Origin of chew
1Derived forms of chew
- chewable, adjective
- chewer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with chew
In addition to the idioms beginning with chew
- chew out
- chew the cud
- chew the fat
also see:
- bite off more than one can chew
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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