chew

Everyday

1. To chew is to break up food in your mouth with your teeth before you swallow it. tree →
2. To chew on something is to bite it again and again, like a dog with a bone. tree →
3. A chew is a chewy sweet or a treat for a dog. tree →
4. To chew something over is to think about it carefully. tree →

In the lessons

In science, chewing is the first step of digestion: teeth cut and grind food, and saliva starts to break it down. In manners, chew with your mouth closed. In safety, chew food well to avoid choking, and small children should not have hard round foods. Chewing gum goes in the bin, not on the floor or under desks. Phrases: chew your food, chew gum, chew over, bite off more than you can chew (take on too much).

Examples

• Chew your food properly before you swallow. tree →
• Please chew with your mouth closed. tree →
• The puppy chewed my slipper. tree →
• Cows chew grass for hours. tree →
• Put your chewing gum in the bin. tree →
• Let me chew it over and tell you tomorrow. tree →
• Don't bite off more than you can chew. tree →
• After tasting it, he chewed it well, closed his eyes, and swallowed it. tree →

Note

Past form chewed. Adjective: chewy. Do not confuse chew with "choose" — chew (eat), choose (pick). Dogs and puppies chew to explore and clean teeth; give them safe chew toys.

In Jewish tradition

To chew the cud is to bring food up again and chew it. Only animals that do this and also have split hooves may be eaten.

Interpretation. The signs of chewing the cud and a split hoof are the two signs of clean animals. The rabbis taught that both are needed, and that the camel is forbidden because it lacks one.

Examples

• While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (Torah NUM.11.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them that only part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you. (Torah LEV.11.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form chewed. Adjective: chewy. Do not confuse chew with "choose" — chew (eat), choose (pick). Dogs and puppies chew to explore and clean teeth; give them safe chew toys.