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Chew vs Whew - What's the difference?

chew | whew |

As verbs the difference between chew and whew

is that chew is to crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed while whew is to whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.

As a noun chew

is a small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.

As an interjection whew is

an expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

chew

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed.
  • Make sure to chew thoroughly, and don't talk with your mouth full!
    The steak was tough to chew as it had been cooked too long.
  • To grind, tear, or otherwise degrade or demolish something with teeth or as with teeth.
  • He keep his feed in steel drums to prevent the mice from chewing holes in the feed-sacks.
    The harsh desert wind and sand had chewed the stump into ragged strips of wood.
  • (informal) To think about something; to ponder; to chew over.
  • The professor stood at the blackboard, chalk in hand, and chewed the question the student had asked.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Old politicians chew wisdom past.
  • * Prior
  • He chews revenge, abjuring his offense.

    Synonyms

    * (crush food with teeth prior to swallowing) bite, chavel, chomp, crunch, masticate * (degrade or demolish as if with teeth) grind, pulverize, rip, shred, tear * (think about) contemplate, ruminate, mull, muse, ponder * See also

    Derived terms

    * chewing gum * chew out * chew over * chew the cud * chew the fat * chew the scenery * chew up * chewy

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.
  • Phillip purchased a bag of licorice chews at the drugstore.
  • (informal, uncountable) Chewing tobacco.
  • The school had banned chew and smokes from the school grounds, even for adults.
  • (countable, or, uncountable) A plug or wad of chewing tobacco; chaw or a chaw.
  • ''The ballplayers sat on the bench watching the rain, glumly working their chews .
    The first time he chewed tobacco, he swallowed his chew and got extremely sick.

    Derived terms

    * chew toy * penny chew

    whew

    English

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.
  • (from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!
    (from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness you?re safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!
    (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didn?t see me! That was a close call!
  • An expression of amazement or surprise.
  • * 1981 , , revised edition, chapter 1,
  • "...Now I must be off. Whew , it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"

    Synonyms

    * (expressing relief of tension) fyew, phew, (chiefly UK) lumme * (expressing surprise) wow

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (UK, Scotland, dialect) To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.
  • English onomatopoeias