sow
Formssows, sowing, sowed, sown
- 1To spread seeds over the ground or put them in it, or to scatter other things the same way.
We sow carrot seeds in the garden every April.
The farmers are sowing early this year because the spring is so warm.
UsagePast forms: sowed, sown. Sew sounds the same but means using a needle and thread.
- 2
- 3A grown female pig, or the female of some other animals like bears and guinea pigs.
The sow lay in the straw with her ten piglets.
Our farm has two sows and one big boar.
UsageThis sow sounds like cow. The seed verb sow sounds like go.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4A very rude name for a woman that someone looks down on, often a fat woman.
He was rude and called the woman at the store a lazy sow.
'Get out of my way, you old sow!' the angry man shouted at his neighbor.
Similarcow
Note
- 5Old spelling of sew. Today the word is always spelled sew, meaning to join cloth with needle and thread.
- 6A sowbug, a tiny gray animal with many legs that lives in damp places.
- 7A name used by some families.
- 8A solid piece of metal made when hot, liquid metal cools in a mold.
- 9A path that hot, liquid metal flows along to get to the molds.
- 10A roofed shelter that attacking soldiers once used while crossing ditches and digging under enemy walls.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Old English sugu. It probably comes from a very old root meaning "pig" and is related to the word "swine."
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Sow descends from Old English sugu. en.wiktionary.org
- Sow probably ultimately comes from an ancient root meaning pig. en.wiktionary.org
- Sow is etymologically related to swine. en.wiktionary.org
From Old English sāwan, which comes from an old Germanic word.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- Sow derives from Old English sāwan. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English sāwan derives from an earlier Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org