sow
1[ soh ]
/ soʊ /
verb (used with object), sowed, sown or sowed, sow·ing.
to scatter (seed) over land, earth, etc., for growth; plant.
to plant seed for: to sow a crop.
to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth.
to implant, introduce, or promulgate; seek to propagate or extend; disseminate: to sow distrust or dissension.
to strew or sprinkle with anything.
verb (used without object), sowed, sown or sowed, sow·ing.
to sow seed, as for the production of a crop.
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Nearby words
Origin of sow
1before 900; Middle English sowen, Old English sāwan; cognate with Dutch zaaien, German säen, Old Norse sā, Gothic saian; akin to seed, Latin sēmen seed, serere to sow
Related formssow·a·ble, adjectivesow·er, nounun·sowed, adjective
Definition for sow (2 of 2)
sow
2[ sou ]
/ saʊ /
noun
an adult female swine.
the adult female of various other animals, as the bear.
Metallurgy.
- 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.
- the common channel itself.
- a basin holding any of certain molten nonferrous metals to be cast.
Origin of sow
2before 900; Middle English sowe, Old English sugu; cognate with German Sau, Old Norse sȳr, Latin sūs, Greek hûs, Tocharian B suwo; see swine
Related formssow·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for sow
British Dictionary definitions for sow (1 of 2)
sow
1/ (səʊ) /
verb sows, sowing, sowed, sown or sowed
to scatter or place (seed, a crop, etc) in or on (a piece of ground, field, etc) so that it may growto sow wheat; to sow a strip of land
(tr) to implant or introduceto sow a doubt in someone's mind
Derived Formssowable, adjectivesower, noun
Word Origin for sow
Old English sāwan; related to Old Norse sā, Old High German sāen, Old Slavonic seja, Latin serere to sow
British Dictionary definitions for sow (2 of 2)
sow
2/ (saʊ) /
noun
a female adult pig
the female of certain other animals, such as the mink
metallurgy
- the channels for leading molten metal to the moulds in casting pig iron
- iron that has solidified in these channels
Word Origin for sow
Old English sugu; related to Old Norse sӯr, Old High German sū, Latin sūs, Norwegian sugga, Dutch zeug: see swine
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
Idioms and Phrases with sow
sow
In addition to the idiom beginning with sow
- sow one's wild oats
also see:
- can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.