skewer

[ skyoo-er ]

/ ˈskyu ər /

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See synonyms for: skewer / skewered / skewering on Thesaurus.com

noun

a long pin of wood or metal for inserting through meat or other food to hold or bind it in cooking.

any similar pin for fastening or holding an item in place.

verb (used with object)

to fasten with or as if with a skewer.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of skewer

First recorded in 1670–80; earlier skiver< ?

OTHER WORDS FROM skewer

un·skew·ered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH skewer

skew, skewer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use skewer in a sentence

This razor-sharp novel skewers America’s workforce, explores ambition and race, and imagines a necessary new vision of the American dream.
10 of the best new books coming out in January 2021|Rachel King|January 1, 2021|Fortune
As with most things, the British comedy Absolutely Fabulous skewered the absurdity years before its current ubiquity.
The New Right-Wing Idol: Working Moms|Tim Teeman|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Back in November, SNL shrewdly skewered its diversity problem with its Kerry Washington-hosted outing.
Finally! ‘Saturday Night Live’ Hires Sasheer Zamata, First Black Female Cast Member in 5 Years|Kevin Fallon|January 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He skewered the Bush administration for failing to build adequate power plants in the first year after the fall of the regime.
My Friend and Mentor, Christopher Hitchens|Eli Lake|December 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST

As for Joe Kaufman, the FrontPage writer who attacked Aboushi, he was skewered last year for his Islamophobia on the Daily Show.
Commentary Mag Defends Bigoted Smears Against Palestinian NFL Player|Ali Gharib|July 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Elected officials on both sides of the river skewered him; Cuomo kept silent.
In Sandy’s Aftermath, Chris Christie, Andrew Cuomo Make Unlikely Team|David Freedlander|November 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He wouldn't be denied; went to work like a fellow meaning to be skewered, if he couldn't do the trick: and he tried it.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
And with his pieces of meat awkwardly skewered on his iron stick he tried to poke under the authorised kid and get at the fire.
Sea and Sardinia|D. H. Lawrence
Barely had it done so when it was skewered to the boards by the fork of Captain Tollward.
Cupid in Africa|P. C. Wren
A couple of pieces of bear meat were skewered upon the rod, and had been frizzling there for the past quarter of an hour.
How Canada was Won|F. S. Brereton
They were brought round skewered on a long spit, held by a page for the guest to help herself.
Grisly Grisell|Charlotte M. Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for skewer

skewer

/ (ˈskjʊə) /

noun

a long pin for holding meat in position while being cooked, etc

a similar pin having some other function

chess a tactical manoeuvre in which an attacked man is made to move and expose another man to capture

verb

(tr) to drive a skewer through or fasten with a skewer

Word Origin for skewer

C17: probably from dialect skiver

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

skewer

Origin of skewer

OTHER WORDS FROM skewer

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH skewer

Words related to skewer

How to use skewer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for skewer

Word Origin for skewer