Chew

/tʃuː/ · verb

Meaning

To crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed..

Definitions by Sense

1. To crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed.
2. To grind, tear, or otherwise degrade or demolish something with teeth or as with teeth.
3. (informal) To think about something; to ponder; to chew over.
4. The act of chewing; mastication with the mouth.
5. Level of chewiness.
6. A small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.
7. (informal, uncountable) Chewing tobacco.
8. (countable) A plug or wad of chewing tobacco; chaw or a chaw.

Example Sentences

Make sure to chew thoroughly, and don't talk with your mouth full!

The steak was tough to chew as it had been cooked too long.

1971-79, Journal of Glenn T. Seaborg And gruesome they areː We find cattle still alive with hindquarters chewn off, still alive with their eyes chewn out, their ears chewn off, their noses and faces chewn till they look like (a) Hamburger, their tails hanging in shreds. Or, we find them after a slow and cruel death. Can you understand why cattlemen will shoot YOUR dog if he is seen wandering on ranchland?

The same chewn upon maketh one to avoid much phlegm.

But meanwhile Mademoiselle's book had at least been found under an arm-chair where it had been dragged, chewn up and torn to pieces by a young pug-dog or by a kitten.

He wore two sweaters, both moth chewn and filthy but warm.

His left cheek seemed to have been cut and chewn awayǃ

He keeps his feed in steel drums to prevent the mice from chewing holes in the feed-sacks.

Synonyms for chew

Antonyms for chew

Related Words

Word Forms

• chews
• chewing
• chewed
• chewn

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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