chew

6 definitions • 8 examples

to crush food into smaller, softer pieces with the teeth so that it can be swallowed:

This meat is difficult to chew.

You don't chew your food enough - that's why you get indigestion.

to bite something repeatedly with your teeth, usually in order to taste its flavour:

Would you like some gum to chew?

chew on She gave the children some sweets to chew on during the long car journey.

She sat in the dentist's waiting room, nervously chewing at (= biting) her nails.

an act of chewing something

a piece of hard food that can be given to an animal to chew:

Chews can be a good way to improve your pet's oral hygiene.

dog chew Dog chews are sometimes made from rawhide or bone.

a hard sweet that gets softer the more you chew it

to crush food into smaller, softer pieces with the teeth so that it is easier to swallow:

[ T ] The steak was tough and hard to chew.