sew

(s ) v. sewed, sewn (s n) or sewed, sewing, sews v.tr. 1. To make, repair, or fasten by stitching, as with a needle and thread or a sewing machine: sew a dress; sew on a button. 2. To furnish with stitches for the purpose of closing, fastening, or attaching: sew an incision closed. v.intr. To work with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine. Phrasal Verb: sew up Informal 1. To complete successfully: Our team has sewn up the championship. 2. To gain complete control of; monopolize. 3. To make sure of: campaign strategists who were trying to sew up the election results. [Middle English sewen, from Old English seowian; see sy - in Indo-European roots.]

sew able adj.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

sew [s]
vb sews, sewing, sewed ; sewn, sewed

1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) to join or decorate (pieces of fabric, etc.) by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement

2. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) (tr; often foll by on or up) to attach, fasten, or close by sewing

3. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) (tr) to make (a garment, etc.) by sewing See also sew up [Old English sowan; related to Old Norse sja, Gothic siujan, Old High German siuwen, Latin suere to sew, Sanskrit svjati he sews]
Collins English Dictionary Complete and Unabridged HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

sew (so)
v. sewed, sewn sewed, sewing. v.t.

1. to join or attach by stitches.

2. to make, repair, etc., by such means: She sewed her own wedding gown.

3. to enclose or secure with stitches: to sew flour in a bag.

4. to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usu. fol. by up).

v.i.

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

6. sew up, Informal. to get, have, accomplish, or control successfully or completely: to sew up a deal; to sew up votes at a convention. [before 900; Middle English; Old English siw(i)an, c. Old Frisian si, Old High German siuwan, Old Norse sja, Gothic siujan, Latin suere (seesuture); akin to seam] sewable, adj., n. sew`ability, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus Legend:

Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Verb 1. sew - fasten by sewing; do needlework sew together, stitch, run up hem - fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; "hem my skirt" resew - sew again; "The cuff of the coat had been resewn" overcast - sew with an overcast stitch from one section to the next; "overcast books" overcast - sew over the edge of with long slanting wide stitches backstitch - do backstitches pucker, tuck, gather - draw together into folds or puckers finedraw - sew together very finely fell - sew a seam by folding the edges

baste, tack - sew together loosely, with large stitches; "baste a hem" hemstitch - sew with hemstitches; "hemstitch a sleeve" retick, tick - sew; "tick a mattress" fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man" cast on - make the first row of stitches when knitting cast off - make the last row of stitches when knitting 2. sew - create (clothes) with cloth; "Can the seamstress sew me a suit by next week?" tailor-make, tailor fashion, forge - make out of components (often in an improvising manner); "She fashioned a tent out of a sheet and a few sticks" run up - make by sewing together quickly; "run up a skirt" quilt - create by stitching together
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex In