Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An adult female pig, especially one that has had at least one litter.
- noun The adult female of several other animals, such as the bear.
- noun A channel that conducts molten iron to the molds in a pig bed.
- noun The mass of metal solidified in such a channel or mold.
- intransitive verb To scatter (seed) over the ground for growing.
- intransitive verb To scatter seed over (land, for example).
- intransitive verb To strew something around or over (an area); distribute something over.
- intransitive verb To propagate; disseminate.
- intransitive verb To scatter seed for growing.
- idiom (oats/wild oats) To indulge in sexually promiscuous or dissolute behavior, especially as a young adult.
from The Century Dictionary.
- An obsolete spelling of
sew . - noun An adult female hog; the female of swine.
- noun A sow-bug.
- noun In metallurgy, the metal which has solidified in the common channel or feeder through which the molten iron flows from the blast-furnace into a series of parallel grooves or furrows, which are the “pigs” appertaining to the sow, and the iron from which bears the name of pigiron, or simply pig: used also of other metals.
- noun A military engine consisting of a movable roof arranged to protect men handling a battering-ram. Compare
vinea , alsocat and cat-castle. - Female: applied to fish: as, a sow hake. See
sow fish , under fish. - noun In metallurgy: Same as
bear , 7. - To scatter, as seed upon the earth, for the purpose of growth; plant by strewing.
- To scatter seed over for growth; supply or stock with seed.
- To scatter over; besprinkle; spangle: as, a velvet pall sown with golden bees.
- To spread abroad; cause to extend; disseminate; propagate: as, to
sow discord. - To scatter seed for growth and the production of a crop.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To scatter, as seed, upon the earth; to plant by strewing. Also used figuratively: To spread abroad; to propagate.
- transitive verb To scatter seed upon, in, or over; to supply or stock, as land, with seeds. Also used figuratively: To scatter over; to besprinkle.
- intransitive verb obsolete To sew. See
sew . - intransitive verb To scatter seed for growth and the production of a crop; -- literally or figuratively.
- noun (Zoöl.) The female of swine, or of the hog kind.
- noun (Zoöl.) A sow bug.
- noun A channel or runner which receives the rows of molds in the pig bed.
- noun The bar of metal which remains in such a runner.
- noun A mass of solidified metal in a furnace hearth; a salamander.
- noun (Mil.) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, or the like.
- noun (Bot.) See
Cyclamen . - noun (Zoöl.) any one of numerous species of terrestrial Isopoda belonging to Oniscus, Porcellio, and allied genera of the family
Oniscidæ . They feed chiefly on decaying vegetable substances. - noun (Bot.) a composite plant (
Sonchus oleraceus ) said to be eaten by swine and some other animals.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To
scatter ,disperse , orplant (seeds ). - noun A
female pig . - noun A
channel that conductsmolten metal tomolds . - noun A mass of metal
solidified in a mold. - noun derogatory, slang A
contemptible woman.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an adult female hog
- verb place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth
- verb place seeds in or on (the ground)
- verb introduce into an environment
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Boars are usually rank and sows are usually thin from nursing pigs. a fat sow is usually pregnant and good eating too.
My family owns and opperates a small farm which has recently built up a decent wild hog population. 2009
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Boars are usually rank and sows are usually thin from nursing pigs. a fat sow is usually pregnant and good eating too.
My family owns and opperates a small farm which has recently built up a decent wild hog population. 2009
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Or at least watch more television, cause reap what you sow is about as common as turn the other cheek.
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When in fact it does no such thing, and any lethality it might sow is 1. pure SPECULATION since no deaths are recoreded 2. a mere “possibility”, HOWEVER REMOTE.
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The fact we are worried now, if we get sufficiently worried, not only to think hard on the facts but to face the facts, is our best assurance that we won't again sow the seeds for a third World War.
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"Will sow" is the Hebrew future, said of that which has been done, is being done, and may be done afterwards [Maurer],
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The word sough, now pronounced suff, was formerly called sow; whence the iron fused and received into a sough acquired the name of sowmetal; and that received into less soughs from the former one obtained the name of pigs of iron or of lead; from the pun on the word sough, into sow and pigs.
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society A Poem, with Philosophical Notes Erasmus Darwin 1766
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Bozo The Neoclown says: fuzzy nipples, the topic if the twinkie-gulping-skank liz cheney and if she’s guilty of giving “aid and comfort to the enemy” in time of war”? what’s the matter, are you afraid to engage in the topic at hand since the fat sow is indefensable?
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The purpose of money is to reap so that you can sow, and to sow is to invest, he explains.
American Grace Robert D. Putnam 2010
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We reap what we sow, that is what happens in a democracy like ours.
oroboros commented on the word sow
Female pig; distribute seeds.
November 22, 2007
ruzuzu commented on the word sow
"9. A military engine consisting of a movable roof arranged to protect men handling a battering-ram. Compare vinea, also cat and cat-castle."
--Century Dictionary
January 7, 2011