sew

¹

[ soh ]

verb (used with object)

, sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

1. to join or attach by stitches.
2. to make, repair, etc., (a garment) by such means.
3. to enclose or secure with stitches:

   to sew flour in a bag.

4. to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usually followed by up ).

verb (used without object)

, sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

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

verb phrase

1. 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.

sew

²

[ soo ]

verb (used with object)

, sewed, sew·ing.

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

verb (used without object)

, sewed, sew·ing.

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

noun

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

sew

/ səʊ /

verb

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

Other Words From

• sewa·ble adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sew¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English seuen, souen, Old English siw(i)an, siowan; cognate with Old High German siuwan, Old Norse sauma, Gothic siujan; akin to Sanskrit sī́vyati “(he) sews,” Latin suere; seam

Origin of sew²

First recorded in 1580–90; from Middle French sewer, shortening of essewer, from unattested Vulgar Latin exaquāre, equivalent to Latin ex- “out of, from, thoroughly” + verb derivative of aqua “water”; sewer ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sew¹

Old English sēowan; related to Old Norse sӯja, Gothic siujan, Old High German siuwen, Latin suere to sew, Sanskrit sīvjati he sews

Related Words

• embroider
• fasten
• stitch
• tailor