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definitions

sewing

[ soh-ing ]
/ ˈsoʊ ɪŋ /
|
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noun

the act or work of one who sews.
something sewn or to be sewn.

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RELATED WORDS

tailoring, mending, needlework, stitchery, seaming, needlecraft, dressmaking

Nearby words

  1. sewellel,
  2. sewer,
  3. sewer pill,
  4. sewerage,
  5. sewin,
  6. sewing circle,
  7. sewing cotton,
  8. sewing machine,
  9. sewing needle,
  10. sewing silk

Origin of sewing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at sew1, -ing1

sew

1
[ soh ]
/ soʊ /

verb (used with object), sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

to join or attach by stitches.
to make, repair, etc., (a garment) by such means.
to enclose or secure with stitches: to sew flour in a bag.
to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usually followed by up).

verb (used without object), sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

to work with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine.

Verb Phrases

sew up,
  1. Informal. to get or have a monopoly of; control exclusively.
  2. Informal. to complete or conclude (arrangements, negotiations, etc.) successfully: They were about to sew up the deal when the argument started.
  3. to gain or be assured of: He tried to sew up as many votes as possible before the convention.

Origin of sew

1
before 900; Middle English sewen, Old English siw(i)an; cognate with Old High German siuwan, Gothic siujan, Latin suere (see suture); akin to seam
Related formssew·a·ble, adjective, noun

sew

2
[ soo ]
/ su /
Nautical

verb (used with object), sewed, sew·ing.

to ground (a vessel) at low tide (sometimes fol by up).

verb (used without object), sewed, sew·ing.

(of a vessel) to be grounded at low tide.

noun

the amount of additional water necessary to float a grounded vessel.

Origin of sew

2
1505–15; < Middle French sewer, aphetic variant of essewer < Vulgar Latin *exaquāre, equivalent to Latin ex- ex-1 + aqu(a) water + -āre infinitive suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sewing

British Dictionary definitions for sewing

sewing

/ (ˈsəʊɪŋ) /

noun

  1. a piece of cloth, etc, that is sewn or to be sewn
  2. (as modifier)sewing basket

sew

/ (səʊ) /

verb sews, sewing, sewed, sewn or sewed

to join or decorate (pieces of fabric, etc) by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement
(tr; often foll by on or up) to attach, fasten, or close by sewing
(tr) to make (a garment, etc) by sewing
See also sew up

Word Origin for sew

Old English sēowan; related to Old Norse sӯja, Gothic siujan, Old High German siuwen, Latin suere to sew, Sanskrit sīvjati he sews
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
Word Origin and History for sewing
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper