pew

¹ American  

[pyoo] / pyu /

noun

1. (in a church) one of a number of fixed, benchlike seats with backs, accessible by aisles, for the use of the congregation.

2. an enclosed seat in a church, or an enclosure with seats, usually reserved for a family or other group of worshipers.

3. those occupying pews; congregation.

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PEW ² American  

abbreviation

Biology, Ecology.

1. possibly extinct in the wild.

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pew British  

/ pjuː /

noun

1. 1. one of several long benchlike seats with backs, used by the congregation

   2. an enclosed compartment reserved for the use of a family or other small group

2. informal a seat (esp in the phrase take a pew )

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Etymology

Origin of pew

1350–1400; Middle English puwe < Middle French puie balcony < Latin podia, plural (taken as singular) of podium balcony. See podium

Example Sentences

And now as I stood singing it I heard, behind me in the pew, Mama’s voice singing too.

From Literature

Wasps droned in the window wells as people shuffled in, filling the pews.

From Literature

She set the picnic hamper on a pew and urged me to sit down.

From Literature

"In life, these folks -- benefactors, knights, and clergy -- were also likely able to use their wealth to secure closer proximity to divinity, such as having a pew closer to the front of the church."

From Science Daily

Simple pews take up a small portion of the subdued space, whose altar is backed by a bright window framing a centuries-old sculpture of the Virgin and Christ Child.

From The Wall Street Journal