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chew

chew

 
 
pronunciation:
chu
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
phrases:
chew out, chew the fat, chew the rag
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: chews, chewing, chewed
definition 1: to tear or grind between the teeth; masticate.
The elderly man chewed his food with difficulty.Are you chewing gum, or eating candy?
synonyms:
masticate
similar words:
bite, champ, crunch, gnaw, grind, munch, nibble, ruminate
definition 2: to act upon as if with teeth; to tear, grind, or damage (often fol. by "up").
The blades of the fan chewed her scarf into bits.That cheap sharpener chewed up my pencil.
synonyms:
rend, shred
similar words:
crunch, crush, gnaw, grind, masticate
definition 3: to ponder or consider (usu. fol. by "over").
We sat silently, chewing over our lawyer's words.
synonyms:
cogitate, contemplate, mull, ponder, reflect on, ruminate
similar words:
consider, deliberate, meditate on, think, weigh
phrase: chew out, chew the fat, chew the rag
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition: to move the jaws in a grinding motion (sometimes fol.by "on.")
The dog loves to chew on this rubber toy.I'd finished eating, but she was still chewing.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: the act of chewing.
similar words:
bite, champ, nibble
definition 2: something for chewing, esp. a plug of tobacco.
synonyms:
plug
similar words:
bite, chewing gum, tobacco
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: chewable (adj.), chewer (n.)
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See
  digestion, food, rodent, tooth