sew
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to join pieces of cloth together using a needle and thread.
to join, fasten, or repair fabric or other materials by making stitches with a needle and thread.
Simple“My grandmother taught me how to sew a button onto a shirt.”
In context“After the hem of her dress caught on the chair, she had to quickly sew it back into place before the ceremony began.”
UsageThe past participle is usually 'sewn', though 'sewed' is sometimes accepted.
PitfallShe has sewed the button back on. She has sewn the button back on.While 'sewed' is the past tense, the past participle is usually 'sewn'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
to make a piece of clothing or an object using a needle and thread.
to create a garment or textile object through the process of stitching.
Simple“He decided to sew his own Halloween costume this year.”
In context“The designer spent weeks learning how to sew intricate patterns into the silk for the summer collection.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
when a ship rests on the ground because the water is too shallow.
to rest on the ground, as a ship when the water level falls; the ship is said to 'sew' by the amount the water level has dropped below its floating depth.
Simple“The boat began to sew as the tide went out in the small harbour.”
In context“The vessel was found to sew two feet at low water, making it impossible to move until the next high tide.”
UsageUsually used in the context of a ship being 'sewed' by a specific measurement of depth.
From Middle English sewen, seowen, sowen, from Old English siwian, seowian, seowan (“to sew, mend, patch, knit together, link, unite”), from Proto-Germanic siwjaną (“to sew”), from Proto-Indo-European syewh₁- (“to sew”). Cognate with Scots sew, North Frisian saie, sei, Saterland Frisian säie, Danish sy, Swedish sy, and, more distantly, Polish szyć, Russian шить (šitʹ), Latin suō, Sanskrit सीव्यति (sī́vyati). Related to seam.
Back-formation from sewer (“a drain”).
From Middle English sew (“broth”), from Old English sēaw (“sap, juice”), from Proto-West Germanic *sauw.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.