chew

[ choo ]

verb (used with object)

1. to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate.
2. to crush, damage, injure, etc., as if by chewing (often followed by up ):

   The faulty paper feeder chewed the letters up.

3. to make by or as if by chewing:

   The puppy chewed a hole in my slipper.

4. to meditate on; consider deliberately (often followed by over ):

   He chewed the problem over in his mind.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the act of crushing or grinding with the teeth.
2. Informal. to chew tobacco.
3. to meditate.

noun

1. an act or instance of chewing.
2. something chewed or intended for chewing:

   a chew of tobacco; taffy chews.

verb phrase

1. Slang. to scold harshly:

   The sergeant chewed out the recruits.

chew

/ tʃuː /

verb

1. to work the jaws and teeth in order to grind (food); masticate
2. to bite repeatedly

   she chewed her nails anxiously

3. intr to use chewing tobacco
4. chew the fat or chew the rag slang.
   1. to argue over a point
   2. to talk idly; gossip

noun

1. the act of chewing
2. something that is chewed

   a chew of tobacco

Derived Forms

• ˈchewable, adjective
• ˈchewer, noun

Other Words From

• chewer noun
• un·chewed adjective
• well-chewed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chew¹

before 1000; Middle English chewen, Old English cēowan; cognate with Old High German kiuwan ( German kauen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chew¹

Old English ceowan; related to Old High German kiuwan, Dutch kauwen, Latin gingīva a gum

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chew the fat, Informal. to converse at length in a relaxed manner; chat: Also chew the rag.

   They liked to sit around chewing the fat.

More idioms and phrases containing chew

• bite off more than one can chew

Example Sentences

"It has been really good to chew the fat on what happened and really get a grasp of what we need to do and what needs to change," Sleightholme told BBC Sport.

From BBC

Other sounds, be it his wife popping chewing gum or a neighbour's dog barking, and some smells, such as congealed fat or grease, and sights such as fluorescent lights, have always made him very uncomfortable.

From BBC

Fun merch is a staple of all parties' annual gatherings as activists meet to chew over the year's highs and lows.

From BBC

There is only a short time before the tour of New Zealand and plenty to chew over before the first Test in Christchurch on 28 November.

From BBC

In his autobiography, he talks about blinking 100 times a minute and chewing his knuckles.

From BBC

Related Words

• bite
• chomp
• gnaw
• nibble