Word
skewer
Phoneticsskew·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskjuɝ/
UK/skjˈuːɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a long thin metal or wooden stick you push through pieces of meat or vegetables to hold them while you cook them over heat.
n. a long pointed metal or wooden pin pushed through pieces of meat or vegetables to hold them together during cooking or grilling.
Examples
“She puts vegetables on a metal skewer.”
“He turns the chicken skewers slowly over the grill to cook them evenly.”
“Street vendors thread marinated lamb onto long skewers, fanning the coals until the fat drips and flames flare.”
Examples
simple
“She puts vegetables on a metal skewer.”
contextual
“He turns the chicken skewers slowly over the grill to cook them evenly.”
complex
“Street vendors thread marinated lamb onto long skewers, fanning the coals until the fat drips and flames flare.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “skewer” in context.
Verb
01. cook on skewer
“Peppers cook quickly on skewers over an open flame.”
verb + prep + noun
02. grill skewer
“Grill the skewers over medium heat for ten minutes.”
verb + noun
03. serve on skewer
“They served the prawns on skewers with lemon rice.”
verb + prep + noun
04. skewer holds
“Each skewer holds four pieces of lamb and vegetables.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. bamboo skewer
“Thread the prawns onto a bamboo skewer before barbecuing.”
adj + noun
06. metal skewer
“Use metal skewers for kebabs because they conduct heat evenly.”
adj + noun
07. sharp skewer
“Be careful with the sharp skewer when turning the meat.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. skewer of chicken
“She ate a skewer of chicken with flatbread and salad.”
noun + prep + noun
09. skewer of meat
“We shared a skewer of meat and grilled vegetables for lunch.”
noun + prep + noun
10. skewer of vegetables
“Try a skewer of vegetables as a light vegetarian option.”
noun + prep + noun
11. grill on metal skewers
“We grilled peppers and halloumi on metal skewers.”
12. serve on wooden skewers
“The street vendor served satay on wooden skewers with peanut sauce.”
Real-World Examples
“High-budget shows are a bit like a kebab shop, mind you: through the skewering of these things, we also get to enjoy them.” “Long strips of chicken thigh and pork shoulder can become unruly, so we pile them onto skewers in as compact a stack as possible, creating a uniform shape that cooks evenly.” “We like flat metal skewers best because the wide skewers help keep food from spinning around them, and metal doesn’t burn like wood can (plus, you don’t have to soak metal skewers).” “One trick chefs agree on is to make sure each item on the skewer—whether it’s meat, vegetables, or both—is around the same size and similar density, so they cook evenly.” Etymology
From Middle English skeuier, skuer, likely a variant of Middle English skever, skiver (compare Modern English skiver), probably of North Germanic origin, compare Icelandic skífa (“to slice”), Norwegian skive, Swedish skiva, Swedish skifer (“a slate”).
From skew + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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