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chew

(ch)

v. chewed, chew·ing, chews

v.tr.

1. To bite and grind with the teeth; masticate.

2. To meditate on; ponder: chew a problem over.

v.intr.

1. To make a crushing and grinding motion with the teeth.

2. To cogitate; meditate: chewed on the difficulties ahead.

3. Informal To chew tobacco as a habit.

1. The act of chewing.

2. Something held in the mouth and chewed, especially a plug of tobacco.

Phrasal Verb:

chew out Slang

To reprimand; scold.

Idioms:

chew the cud Slang

To ponder over; meditate.

chew the fat/rag Slang

To talk together in a friendly, leisurely way; chat at length.

[Middle English cheuen, from Old English cēowan.]

chewa·ble adj.

chewer n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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