sew

1
[ soh ]
/ soʊ /

verb (used with object), sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

to join or attach by stitches.
to make, repair, etc., (a garment) by such means.
to enclose or secure with stitches: to sew flour in a bag.
to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usually followed by up).

verb (used without object), sewed, sewn or sewed, sew·ing.

to work with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine.

Verb Phrases

sew up,
  1. Informal. to get or have a monopoly of; control exclusively.
  2. Informal. to complete or conclude (arrangements, negotiations, etc.) successfully: They were about to sew up the deal when the argument started.
  3. to gain or be assured of: He tried to sew up as many votes as possible before the convention.

Origin of sew

1
before 900; Middle English sewen, Old English siw(i)an; cognate with Old High German siuwan, Gothic siujan, Latin suere (see suture); akin to seam

OTHER WORDS FROM sew

sew·a·ble, adjective, noun

Definition for sew (2 of 2)

sew 2
[ soo ]
/ su /
Nautical

verb (used with object), sewed, sew·ing.

to ground (a vessel) at low tide (sometimes fol by up).

verb (used without object), sewed, sew·ing.

(of a vessel) to be grounded at low tide.

noun

the amount of additional water necessary to float a grounded vessel.

Origin of sew

2
1505–15; < Middle French sewer, aphetic variant of essewer < Vulgar Latin *exaquāre, equivalent to Latin ex- ex-1 + aqu(a) water + -āre infinitive suffix

Example sentences from the Web for sew

British Dictionary definitions for sew

sew
/ (səʊ) /

verb sews, sewing, sewed, sewn or sewed

to join or decorate (pieces of fabric, etc) by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement
(tr; often foll by on or up) to attach, fasten, or close by sewing
(tr) to make (a garment, etc) by sewing
See also sew up

Word Origin for sew

Old English sēowan; related to Old Norse sӯja, Gothic siujan, Old High German siuwen, Latin suere to sew, Sanskrit sīvjati he sews