chew
v. A2 Elementary US //ˈtʃu// UK //tʃjˈuː// chew
v. to use your teeth to break food into small pieces before you swallow it.
v. to crush or grind something, typically food, with the teeth as a preliminary step to swallowing and digestion.
You should chew your food slowly.
The puppy likes to chew on old shoes when its owners are not looking.
While ruminants must chew their cud to extract nutrients from tough plant fibers, humans rely on mechanical breakdown in the mouth to begin the digestive process.
Usage
The verb can be used intransitively or transitively; when used with 'on', it implies a continuous or repetitive action.
Pitfall
He is chewing a gum.He is chewing gum.'Gum' is uncountable in this context; learners often incorrectly use an indefinite article.