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View synonyms for sow

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
“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


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

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsowable, adjective
  • ˈsower, noun
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Other Words From

  • sow·a·ble adjective
  • sow·er noun
  • un·sowed adjective
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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
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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
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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 .
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Example Sentences

But if you choose to conduct your discourse in 140-word snaps, or soundbites, then you reap the crop of dumb that you sow.

The youngsters arrived at our border with the unspoken message that we reap what we sow.

You reap what you sow, and Republicans are paying the price for elevating a minority within their party.

“Their lack of appreciation is obvious and quite frankly, they reap what they sow,” reads one.

But on Wednesday, two of its 15 stores were burned down, according to Atallah who believes the attacks were meant to sow discord.

But before he could even sow that year's crop, he would have to see a certain banker who lived in Nebraska.

Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the foot of the ox and the ass.

For ten acres, or fifty thousand hills, burn and sow three patches each of seventy-five square yards.

If Peruvian guano is applied, sow on about three hundred pounds to the acre in connection with the domestic manure.

A pint of meal and a pint of plaster to each rod, is a good mixture to sow in.

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Sov. Un.sowback