sow

¹ American  

[soh] / soʊ /

verb (used with object)

sowed, sown, sowed, sowing

1. to scatter (seed) over land, earth, etc., for growth; plant.

2. to plant seed for.

   to sow a crop.

3. to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth.

4. to implant, introduce, or promulgate; seek to propagate or extend; disseminate.

   to sow distrust or dissension.

   Synonyms:

   circulate, spread, propagate, inject

5. to strew or sprinkle with anything.

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verb (used without object)

sowed, sown, sowed, sowing

1. to sow seed, as for the production of a crop.

sow ² American  

[sou] / saʊ /

noun

1. an adult female swine.

2. the adult female of various other animals, as the bear.

3. Metallurgy.

   1. a large oblong mass of iron that has solidified in the common channel through which the molten metal flows to the smaller channels in which the pigs solidify.

   2. the common channel itself.

   3. a basin holding any of certain molten nonferrous metals to be cast.

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sow ¹ British  

/ saʊ /

noun

1. a female adult pig

2. the female of certain other animals, such as the mink

3. metallurgy

   1. the channels for leading molten metal to the moulds in casting pig iron

   2. iron that has solidified in these channels

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sow ² British  

/ səʊ /

verb

1. to scatter or place (seed, a crop, etc) in or on (a piece of ground, field, etc) so that it may grow

   to sow wheat

   to sow a strip of land

2. (tr) to implant or introduce

   to sow a doubt in someone's mind

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sow Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sow

• can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

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Other Word Forms

• sowable adjective
• sower noun
• sowlike adjective
• unsowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of sow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sowen, Old English sāwan; cognate with Dutch zaaien, German säen, Old Norse sā, Gothic saian; akin to seed, Latin sēmen “seed”

Origin of sow²

First recorded before 900; Middle English soue, sou(we), Old English sugu, sū; cognate with German Sau, Old Norse sȳr, Latin sūs, Greek hûs, Tocharian B suwo; swine

Example Sentences

"At a time when parents, pediatricians and the public are looking for clear guidance and accurate information, this ill-considered decision will sow further chaos and confusion and erode confidence in immunizations," Dr. Racine added.

From BBC

Many employees were uncertain who was calling the shots and which company they would end up working for, sowing further chaos.

From The Wall Street Journal

Authorities, however, have also promised to take a "firm" stance, and have warned against exploiting the situation to sow chaos.

From Barron's

"Our villages are emptying and, in the region's most fertile plain, we're sowing glass and concrete," said Tentsoglidis in a tilt at the solar farms.

From Barron's

“Scene,” however, is not one of those memoirs that has fun with the sowing and skirts the reaping.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• grow
• propagate
• scatter