Definition of 'sow'

Word Frequency

sow verb uses

(soʊ )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense sows , present participle sowing , past tense sowed , past participle sown

1. verb

If you sow seeds or sow an area of land with seeds, you plant the seeds in the ground.

Sow the seed in a warm place in February/March. [VERB noun]

Yesterday the field opposite was sown with maize. [be VERB-ed + with]

Synonyms: scatter, plant, seed, lodge More Synonyms of sow

2. verb

If someone sows an undesirable feeling or situation, they cause it to begin and develop.

He cleverly sowed doubts into the minds of his rivals. [VERB noun]

Instead, the session has sowed confusion. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: produce, cause, create, occasion [formal] More Synonyms of sow

See sow the seeds of sth/sow the seeds for sth

Word Frequency

sow noun use

(saʊ )

Word forms: plural sows

countable noun

A sow is an adult female pig.

Video: pronunciation of
sow

sow in British English 1

(səʊ )

verbWord forms: sows, sowing, sowed, sown or sowed

to scatter or place ( seed, a crop, etc) in or on (a piece of ground, field, etc) so that it may grow

to sow wheat

to sow a strip of land

2. (transitive)

to implant or introduce

to sow a doubt in someone's mind

Derived forms

sowable (ˈsowable)

adjective

sower (ˈsower)

noun

Word origin

Old English sāwan; related to Old Norse sā, Old High German sāen, Old Slavonic seja, Latin serere to sow

Word Frequency

sow in British English 2

(saʊ )

noun

a female adult pig

the female of certain other animals, such as the mink

3. metallurgy

the channels for leading molten metal to the moulds in casting pig iron

iron that has solidified in these channels

Word origin

Old English sugu; related to Old Norse sӯr, Old High German sū, Latin sūs, Norwegian sugga, Dutch zeug: see swine

Word Frequency

SoW in British English

abbreviation for

statement of work

Word Frequency

sow in American English 1

(soʊ )

verb transitiveWord forms: sowed, sown (soʊn ) or sowed, ˈsowing

to scatter or plant (seed) for growing

to plant seed in or on (a field, ground, earth, etc.)

to spread or scatter; broadcast, disseminate, or propagate

to sow hate

to implant; inculcate

to sow suspicion

verb intransitive

to sow seed for growing

Derived forms

sower (ˈsower)

noun

Word origin

ME sowen < OE sawan, akin to Ger säen < IE base *sē(i) > seed

Word Frequency

sow in American English 2

(saʊ )

noun

an adult female pig

an adult female of certain other mammals, as the bear

a channel or sluice carrying molten metal from a blast furnace to the molds in which pig bars are cast

a large mass of metal that has solidified in this channel

Word origin

ME sowe < OE sugu, akin to Ger sau (OHG su) < IE base *sū-, pig > swine, L sus

Examples of 'sow' in a sentence
sow

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This book provides all the impetus you could need to get sowing and planting.You can also sow a new crop over the winter if you have room indoors.Most important is the ability to sow doubt into the minds of the opposition. Swiss chard can be sown now for winter and spring cropping.These are plants that you sow and cut down before they reach maturity.It had to sow some doubt in his mind.Sow hardy annuals now for early flowering next year and get those bulbs planted.The soil warms up more quickly in spring so plants can be sown and cropped earlier. Plants sown in midsummer tend to bolt quickly.You must make sure that there is always sufficient ground ready for sowing or planting when you want it.