Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sows, present participle sowing, past tense sowed, past participle sown
1. verb
If you sow seeds or sow an area of land with seeds, you plant the seeds in the ground.
Sow the seed in a warm place in February/March. [VERB noun]
Yesterday the field opposite was sown with maize. [beVERB-ed + with]
Synonyms: scatter, plant, seed, lodge More Synonyms of sow
2. verb
If someone sows an undesirable feeling or situation, they cause it to begin and develop.
He cleverly sowed doubts into the minds of his rivals. [VERB noun]
Instead, the session has sowed confusion. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: produce, cause, create, occasion [formal] More Synonyms of sow
3.
See sow the seeds of sth/sow the seeds for sth
sow noun use
(saʊ)
Word forms: plural sows
countable noun
A sow is an adult female pig.
sow in British English1
(səʊ)
verbWord forms: sows, sowing, sowed, sown or sowed
1.
to scatter or place (seed, a crop, etc) in or on (a piece of ground, field, etc) so that it may grow
to sow wheat
to sow a strip of land
2. (transitive)
to implant or introduce
to sow a doubt in someone's mind
Derived forms
sowable (ˈsowable)
adjective
sower (ˈsower)
noun
Word origin
Old English sāwan; related to Old Norse sā, Old High German sāen, Old Slavonic seja, Latin serere to sow
sow in British English2
(saʊ)
noun
1.
a female adult pig
2.
the female of certain other animals, such as the mink
3. metallurgy
a.
the channels for leading molten metal to the moulds in casting pig iron
b.
iron that has solidified in these channels
Word origin
Old English sugu; related to Old Norse sӯr, Old High German sū, Latin sūs, Norwegian sugga, Dutch zeug: see swine
SoW in British English
abbreviation for
statement of work
sow in American English1
(soʊ)
verb transitiveWord forms: sowed, sown (soʊn) or sowed, ˈsowing
1.
to scatter or plant (seed) for growing
2.
to plant seed in or on (a field, ground, earth, etc.)
3.
to spread or scatter; broadcast, disseminate, or propagate
to sow hate
4.
to implant; inculcate
to sow suspicion
verb intransitive
5.
to sow seed for growing
Derived forms
sower (ˈsower)
noun
Word origin
ME sowen < OE sawan, akin to Ger säen < IE base *sē(i) > seed
sow in American English2
(saʊ)
noun
1.
a.
an adult female pig
b.
an adult female of certain other mammals, as the bear
2.
a.
a channel or sluice carrying molten metal from a blast furnace to the molds in which pig bars are cast
b.
a large mass of metal that has solidified in this channel
Word origin
ME sowe < OE sugu, akin to Ger sau (OHG su) < IE base *sū-, pig > swine, L sus
More idioms containing
sow
you reap what you sow
sow the seeds of something
Examples of 'sow' in a sentence
sow
This book provides all the impetus you could need to get sowing and planting.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can also sow a new crop over the winter if you have room indoors.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Most important is the ability to sow doubt into the minds of the opposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Swiss chard can be sown now for winter and spring cropping.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These are plants that you sow and cut down before they reach maturity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It had to sow some doubt in his mind.
The Sun (2006)
Sow hardy annuals now for early flowering next year and get those bulbs planted.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The soil warms up more quickly in spring so plants can be sown and cropped earlier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Plants sown in midsummer tend to bolt quickly.
Stickland, Sue Planning the Organic Herb Garden (1986)
You must make sure that there is always sufficient ground ready for sowing or planting when you want it.
Kitto, Dick Planning the Organic Vegetable Garden (1986)
They cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is time to turn that sow's ear into a silk purse.
The Sun (2016)
You cannot sow the doubt in your players' minds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Sow Japanese radishes now for harvesting in early autumn.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When better to sow a little doubt in English minds but four days before the game?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I usually sow my main crops directly outdoors.
Kitto, Dick Planning the Organic Vegetable Garden (1986)
And it is in these places that the insurgents sow the ground with IEDs whose purpose is to damage and destroy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And sow's ears have not suddenly turned into silk purses simply because there is a different name picking the team.
The Sun (2011)
Sow again to crop from September.
The Sun (2008)
They may have practically sown up the French league by February.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His winner took 26 weeks to grow from sowing to weigh-in.
The Sun (2011)
You can't make a purse out of a sow's ear.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When to sow: crops sown in July will last into winter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
sow
British English: sow NOUN
A sow is an adult female pig.
American English: sow
Brazilian Portuguese: porca
Chinese: 成年母猪
European Spanish: cerda
French: truie
German: Sau
Italian: scrofa
Japanese: 雌豚
Korean: 암퇘지
European Portuguese: porca
Latin American Spanish: cerda
All related terms of 'sow'
sow bug
any of various woodlice , esp any of the genera Oniscus and Porcellio
sow doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
sow thistle
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
sow gapeseed
to daydream ; woolgather
sow one's oats
to indulge in adventure or promiscuity during youth
sow dragon's teeth
to take some action that is intended to prevent strife or trouble but that actually brings it about
to sow gapeseed
to stare in a gaping manner instead of attending to business
to sow your oats
(of a young person) to behave in a rather uncontrolled way, esp by having a lot of sexual relationships
sow one's wild oats
to be promiscuous or dissolute in one's youth before settling down
milk thistle
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
puha
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
rauriki
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
to sow your wild oats
If a young person sows their wild oats , they behave in a rather uncontrolled way, especially by having a lot of sexual relationships.
you reap what you sow
said to mean that everything that happens is a result of things which you have done in the past
sow the seeds of something
to start the process which causes a particular problem or benefit to develop
sow the wind and reap the whirlwind
to engage in, and suffer the consequences of, evil or folly : Hos. 8:7
sow the seeds of sth/sow the seeds for sth
If one thing sows the seeds of another, it starts the process which leads eventually to the other thing.
you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
said to mean that it is impossible to make something really successful or of high quality out of something which is unsuccessful or of poor quality
Chinese translation of 'sow'
sow
(səu)
Word forms:ptsowed
Word forms:ppsown (səun)
vt
[seeds]播种(種) (bōzhòng)
[suspicion, doubts etc]传(傳)播 (chuánbō)
1 (verb)
Definition
to scatter or plant (seed) in or on (the ground) so that it may grow
Yesterday the field opposite was sown with maize.
Synonyms
scatter
He began by scattering seed and putting in plants.
plant
He intends to plant fruit and vegetables.
seed
lodge
The key was lodged in the door.
implant
Doctors implanted an artificial heart into the 46-year-old man.
disseminate
The press plays a critical part in disseminating news and information.
broadcast
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
inseminate
2 (verb)
Definition
to implant or introduce
He sowed doubt into the minds of his rivals.
Synonyms
produce
Cooking with spices produces a wonderful smell.
cause
I don't want to cause any trouble.
create
He's creating a whole new language of painting.
occasion (formal)
The incident occasioned a full-scale parliamentary row.
generate
The minister said the reforms would generate new jobs.
provoke
His comments have provoked a shocked reaction.
induce
an economic crisis induced by high oil prices
bring about
give rise to
precipitate
incite
engender
Insults engender hatred against those who indulge in them.
idiom
See sow the seeds of something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of broadcast
Definition
to make widely known throughout an area
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
Synonyms
make public,
report,
announce,
publish,
spread,
advertise,
proclaim,
circulate,
disseminate,
promulgate,
shout from the rooftops (informal)
in the sense of cause
Definition
to be the cause of
I don't want to cause any trouble.
Synonyms
produce,
begin,
create,
effect,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
result in,
generate,
provoke,
compel,
motivate,
induce,
bring about,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
engender
in the sense of create
Definition
to cause to come into existence
He's creating a whole new language of painting.
Synonyms
make,
form,
produce,
develop,
design,
generate,
invent,
coin,
compose,
devise,
initiate,
hatch,
originate,
formulate,
give birth to,
spawn,
dream up (informal),
concoct,
beget,
give life to,
bring into being or existence
Synonyms of 'sow'
sow
Explore 'sow' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disseminate
Definition
to spread (information, ideas, etc.) widely
The press plays a critical part in disseminating news and information.
Synonyms
spread,
publish,
broadcast,
distribute,
scatter,
proclaim,
circulate,
sow,
disperse,
diffuse,
publicize,
dissipate,
propagate,
promulgate
in the sense of engender
Definition
to produce (a particular feeling, atmosphere, or situation)
Insults engender hatred against those who indulge in them.
Synonyms
produce,
make,
cause,
create,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
excite,
result in,
breed,
generate,
provoke,
induce,
bring about,
arouse,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
instigate,
foment,
beget (old-fashioned)
in the sense of generate
Definition
to produce or create
The minister said the reforms would generate new jobs.
Synonyms
produce,
create,
make,
form,
cause,
initiate,
bring about,
originate,
give rise to,
engender,
whip up
in the sense of implant
Definition
to plant or embed
Doctors implanted an artificial heart into the 46-year-old man.
Synonyms
insert,
place,
plant,
fix,
root,
sow,
graft,
embed,
ingraft
in the sense of induce
Definition
to cause or bring about
an economic crisis induced by high oil prices
Synonyms
cause,
produce,
create,
begin,
effect,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
generate,
provoke,
motivate,
set off,
bring about,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
instigate,
engender,
set in motion
in the sense of lodge
Definition
to embed or be embedded
The key was lodged in the door.
Synonyms
stick,
remain,
catch,
implant,
come to rest,
become fixed,
imbed
in the sense of occasion
Definition
to cause, esp. incidentally
The incident occasioned a full-scale parliamentary row.