Chew

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Chew, v. t. [As ceówan, akin to D. kauwen, G. kauen. Cf. Chaw, Jaw.].

•  To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate.  [1913 Webster]
•  To ruminate mentally; to meditate on.  [1913 Webster]

  "He chews revenge, abjuring his offense."  [1913 Webster]

  "Every beast the parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat."  [1913 Webster]

To chew the cud, to chew the food over again, as a cow; to ruminate; hence, to meditate.

Chew, v. i. 

 To perform the action of biting and grinding with the teeth; to ruminate; to meditate.  [1913 Webster]
"old politicians chew wisdom past."  [1913 Webster]

Chew, n. 

 That which is chewed; that which is held in the mouth at once; a cud.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Chew, v. & n.
--v.tr. (also absol.) work (food etc.) between the teeth; crush or indent with the teeth.
--n.
1 an act of chewing.
2 something for chewing, esp. a chewy sweet.

Idiom

chew the cud reflect, ruminate. chew the fat (or rag) sl.
1 chat.
2 grumble. chewing-gum flavoured gum, esp. chicle, for chewing.
chew on
1 work continuously between the teeth (chewed on a piece of string).
2 think about; meditate on. chew out US colloq. reprimand.
chew over
1 discuss, talk over.
2 think about; meditate on.

Derivative

chewable adj. chewer n.

Etymology

OE ceowan

THESAURUS

Chew

bawl out, bite, bolus, bullshit, carpet, cavendish, chain-smoke, champ, chat, chaw, chew ass, chew out, chew over, chew the cud, chew up, chewing tobacco, chomp, chump, consider, consume, converse, crunch, crush, cud, cuss out, cut plug, devour, drag, draw, eat, eating tobacco, fid, give a going-over, give hail Columbia, give hell, give the deuce, give what-for, gnash, gnaw, gob, gossip, grind, gum, inhale, inhale snuff, jack up, jaw, lambaste, macerate, mash, masticate, morsel, mouth, mouthful, mumble, munch, navy, navy plug, nibble, nip, palaver, pigtail, ponder, puff, pull, pulp, pulpify, quid, ream, ream ass, ream out, rebuke, reprimand, review, revile, ruminate, scold, scrunch, sit on, smash, smoke, snap, squash, swallow, take snuff, talk, tell off, tobacco juice, tongue-lash, twist, vituperate, wig

ROGET THESAURUS

Chew

Food

VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.

Pungency

VB be pungent, bite the tongue, render pungent, season, spice, salt, pepper, pickle, brine, devil, smoke, chew, take snuff.