chew
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
chews;
chewed;
chewing
chews;
chewed;
chewing
Britannica Dictionary definition of CHEW
1
a
:
to use your teeth to cut food into small pieces before you swallow it
[+ object]
-
We were taught to chew our food thoroughly before swallowing.
[no object]
-
He chews with his mouth open.
b
:
to bite on (something) repeatedly with the teeth
— often + on
[+ object]
-
You're not allowed to chew gum in class.
-
chew tobacco
-
Stop chewing [=biting] your nails.
[no object]
-
A mouse chewed through the cord.
-
The dog was chewing on a bone.
2
[+ object]
:
to make (something, such as a hole) by chewing
-
The dog chewed a hole in the rug.
bite off more than you can chew
chew off
[phrasal verb]
chew off (something)
or
chew (something) off
:
to remove (something) by chewing
-
The dog chewed the doll's eyes off.
chew on
[phrasal verb]
chew on (something)
informal
:
to think about (something)
—
see also 1chew 1b (above)
-
Chew on it for a while before you decide.
-
That should give you something to chew on.
chew out
[phrasal verb]
chew (someone) out
or
chew out (someone)
US, informal
:
to speak in an angry and critical way to (someone)
-
I got chewed out [=reprimanded] for leaving early.
-
The coach chewed him out.
chew over
[phrasal verb]
chew (something) over
or
chew over (something)
informal
:
to think about (something)
-
He chewed the problem over in his mind.
-
Chew it over for a while before you decide.
chew the fat
informal also chew the rag
:
to talk together in a friendly and casual way
-
They would sit for hours and chew the fat. [=chat, shoot the breeze]
chew up
[phrasal verb]
1
chew (something) up
or
chew up (something)
:
to destroy (something) by chewing it
-
My new puppy chewed up my shoes.
2
informal
:
to destroy or defeat (someone or something)
-
The truck chewed up the grass.
-
The gears got all chewed up.
-
They chewed up the competition.
-
Don't mess with her—she'll chew you up and spit you out.
— chewer
noun, plural chewers [count]
2
chew
/ˈtʃuː/
noun
plural
chews
2
chew
/ˈtʃuː/
noun
plural
chews
Britannica Dictionary definition of CHEW
[count]
1
:
the act of chewing something
2
:
something that a person or animal chews
-
a chew of tobacco
-
a rawhide chew
