English · Body & Health
chew
/tʃuː/
[/tʃuː/]
crush food with the teeth
Beginnerverb
Definition
To bite and crush food with the teeth before swallowing it. It can also describe biting on something repeatedly.
Example
You should chew your food well before swallowing.
You should chew your food well before swallowing.
Etymology
From Old English 'cēowan' (to chew, gnaw).
How & Where It’s Used
Common in advice about eating; appears in idioms like 'chew it over' (think about it).