chew
UK: tʃuː | US: tʃuː
vt. to crush or grind food with the teeth
vi. to bite repeatedly (e.g., gum or tobacco)
n. the act of chewing; something chewed (e.g., chewing tobacco)
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The word "chew" traces back to Old English cēowan, meaning "to bite or gnaw." It belongs to a group of Germanic verbs describing jaw motion (compare Dutch kauwen, German kauen). The word's simplicity reflects its ancient, functional roots—likely imitative of the sound or motion of grinding food. Unlike Latin-derived terms, it retains its compact, monosyllabic form unchanged for over a millennium.
Cows chew their cud for hours.
She nervously chewed her pen during the exam.
Avoid chewing loudly in quiet places.
This gum loses flavor after five minutes of chewing.
Traditional cultures often chew medicinal herbs.