mew

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

mew, n. [AS. mw, akin to D. meeuw, G. möwe, OHG. mh, Icel. mār.].

 A gull, esp. the common British species (Larus canus); called also sea mew, maa, mar, mow, and cobb.  [1913 Webster]

mew, v. t. [OE. muen, F. muer, fr. L. mutare to change, fr. movere to move. See Move, and cf. Mew a cage, Molt.].

 To shed or cast; to change; to molt; as, the hawk mewed his feathers.  [1913 Webster]
"Nine times the moon had mewed her horns."  [1913 Webster]

mew, v. i. 

 To cast the feathers; to molt; hence, to change; to put on a new appearance.  [1913 Webster]
"Now everything doth mew,
And shifts his rustic winter robe."  [1913 Webster]

mew, n. [OE. mue, F. mue change of feathers, scales, skin, the time or place when the change occurs, fr. muer to molt, mew, L. mutare to change. See 2d Mew.].

•  A cage for hawks while mewing; a coop for fattening fowls; hence, any inclosure; a place of confinement or shelter; -- in the latter sense usually in the plural.  [1913 Webster]

  "Full many a fat partrich had he in mewe."  [1913 Webster]

  "Forthcoming from her darksome mew."  [1913 Webster]

  "Violets in their secret mews."  [1913 Webster]
•  A stable or range of stables for horses; -- compound used in the plural, and so called from the royal stables in London, built on the site of the king's mews for hawks.  [1913 Webster]

mew, v. t. [From Mew a cage.].

 To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other inclosure.  [1913 Webster]
"More pity that the eagle should be mewed."  [1913 Webster]
"Close mewed in their sedans, for fear of air."  [1913 Webster]

mew, v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. G. miauen.].

 To cry as a cat.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

mew, n. 

 The common cry of a cat.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

mew, v. & n.
--v.intr. (of a cat, gull, etc.) utter its characteristic cry.
--n. this sound, esp. of a cat.

mew, n. a gull, esp. the common gull, Larus canus.

mew, n. & v.
--n. a cage for hawks, esp. while moulting.
--v.tr.
1 put (a hawk) in a cage.
2 (often foll. by up) shut up; confine.

mew, var. of MEU.

THESAURUS

mew

adytum, ashram, bark, bawl, bay, beleaguer, bell, bellow, beset, besiege, blare, blat, blate, bleat, blockade, bottle up, bound, box in, box up, bray, burrow, cage, call, caterwaul, cave, cell, chamber, check, cloister, close in, compass, confine, constrain, contain, coop, coop in, coop up, cordon, cordon off, cork up, corral, couch, covert, crib, cry, den, detain, earth, encage, encircle, enclose, encompass, enshrine, fence in, form, give tongue, give voice, hedge in, hem in, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, hiding place, hold, hold in custody, hold in restraint, hole, holy of holies, house in, howl, immure, impound, imprison, incarcerate, include, inhibit, ivory tower, jail, keep in, keep in custody, keep in detention, kennel, lair, leaguer, lodge, low, meow, mew up, mewl, miaow, moo, neigh, nicker, pen, pen in, pen up, pocket, pound, privacy, pule, quarantine, rail in, recess, restrain, restrict, retreat, roar, run, sanctum, sanctum sanctorum, screak, scream, screech, seal up, secret place, shackle, shrine, shut in, shut up, squall, squeak, squeal, stable, surround, troat, tunnel, ululate, wail, wall in, whicker, whine, whinny, wrap, yap, yard, yard up, yawl, yawp, yelp, yip, yowl

ROGET THESAURUS

mew

Lamentation

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.

Divestment

VB divest, uncover &c (cover), denude, bare, strip, disfurnish, undress, disrobe &c (dress, enrobe), uncoif, dismantle, put off, take off, cast off, doff, peel, pare, decorticate, excoriate, skin, scalp, flay, expose, lay open, exfoliate, molt, mew, cast the skin.

Ululation

VB cry, roar, bellow, blare, rebellow, growl, snarl, bark, bow-wow, yelp, bay, bay at the moon, yap, yip, yipe, growl, yarr, yawl, snarl, howl, grunt, gruntle, snort, squeak neigh, whinny, bray, mew, mewl, meow, purr, caterwaul, pule, baa, bleat, low, moo, troat, croak, peep, coo, gobble, quack, honk, gaggle, guggle, crow, caw, squawk, screech cackle, cluck, clack, chuck, chuckle, hoot, hoo, chirp, cheep, chirrup, twitter, cuckoo, warble, trill, tweet, pipe, whistle, hum, buzz, hiss, blatter, ratatat.