sow

¹

[ soh ]

verb (used with object)

, sowed, sown or sowed, sow·ing.

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 or sowed, sow·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈsowable, adjective
• ˈsower, noun

Other Words From

• sow·a·ble adjective
• sow·er noun
• un·sowed 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with sow , also see can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear .

Example Sentences

One of them is the practice of farmers burning crop remains to clear their fields quickly to sow seeds for the next yield.

From BBC

His mass deportation proposal would likely sow enormous pain for millions of families and economic hardship across the United States.

From Salon

“France does not give way to those who sow hatred,” he said.

From BBC

If Trump did not have any involvement in this escapade, Patrushev’s gambit shows—some would say, confirms—that Russia’s main goal, in all these misinformation ventures, is to sow chaos, breed mistrust, and weaken the sinews of democracy in Western countries, especially in the U.S., regardless of who is the president.

From Slate

Although economists say migration tends to improve the overall economy, it can sow fear among those struggling to make ends meet in low-wage jobs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grow
• propagate
• scatter