chew

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
chew/tʃuː/

▶verb

• 1 bite and work (food) in the mouth to make it easier to swallow.

• 2 (chew something over) discuss or consider something at length.

• 3 (chew someone out) N. Amer. informal reprimand someone severely.

▶noun a period of chewing.

■ a thing, especially a sweet, for chewing.

– phrases
chew the fat (or rag) informal chat in a leisurely way.

– derivatives
chewable adjective,
chewer noun.

– origin OE cēowan, of W. Gmc origin.