sow

¹

[soh]

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.

verb (used without object)

sowed, sown, sowed, sowing. 

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

sow

²

[sou]

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.

sow

¹

/ 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

sow

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sow¹

Old English sugu; related to Old Norse sӯr, Old High German sū, Latin sūs, Norwegian sugga, Dutch zeug: see _swine

Origin of sow²

Old English sāwan; related to Old Norse sā, Old High German sāen, Old Slavonic seja, Latin serere to sow

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

Those sown in August are currently just tiny blue-green shoots.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

European nations that are the court’s staunchest backers have raised doubts about whether they will enforce the warrants should Netanyahu visit, sowing doubts about the institution’s authority.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Describing Mr. Carlson as Heritage’s “close friend,” Mr. Roberts said that “the venomous coalition attacking him are sowing division.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Russia's motivation, Tusk went on, was to sow panic and stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Polish society, which is home to more than one million Ukrainian war refugees.

Read more on BBC

But some members of the family have recently expressed fears that disgruntled royals or displaced religious leaders may try to sow discord.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• grow 
• propagate 
• scatter