Meaning of "sew" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SEW

Old English sēowan; related to Old Norse sӯja, Gothic siujan, Old High German siuwen, Latin suere to sew, Sanskrit sīvjati he sews.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF SEW

sew  [səʊ]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SEW

Sew is a verb.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb sew in English.

WHAT DOES SEW MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Sewing

Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabric, archaeologists believe Stone Age people across Europe and Asia sewed fur and skin clothing using bone, antler or ivory needles and "thread" made of various animal body parts including sinew, catgut, and veins. Although usually associated with clothing and household linens, sewing is used in a variety of crafts and industries, including shoemaking, upholstery, sailmaking, bookbinding and the manufacturing of some kinds of sporting goods. Sewing is the fundamental process underlying a variety of textile arts and crafts, including embroidery, tapestry, quilting, appliqué and patchwork. For thousands of years, all sewing was done by hand. The invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century and the rise of computerization in the later 20th century led to mass production of sewn objects, but hand sewing is still practised around the world.

Definition of sew in the English dictionary

The first definition of sew in the dictionary is to join or decorate by means of a thread repeatedly passed through with a needle or similar implement. Other definition of sew is to attach, fasten, or close by sewing. Sew is also to make by sewing.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO SEW

PRESENT

Present

I sew

you sew

he/she/it sews

we sew

you sew

they sew

Present continuous

I am sewing

you are sewing

he/she/it is sewing

we are sewing

you are sewing

they are sewing

Present perfect

I have sewed

you have sewed

he/she/it has sewed

we have sewed

you have sewed

they have sewed

Present perfect continuous

I have been sewing

you have been sewing

he/she/it has been sewing

we have been sewing

you have been sewing

they have been sewing

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I sewed

you sewed

he/she/it sewed

we sewed

you sewed

they sewed

Past continuous

I was sewing

you were sewing

he/she/it was sewing

we were sewing

you were sewing

they were sewing

Past perfect

I had sewed

you had sewed

he/she/it had sewed

we had sewed

you had sewed

they had sewed

Past perfect continuous

I had been sewing

you had been sewing

he/she/it had been sewing

we had been sewing

you had been sewing

they had been sewing

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will sew

you will sew

he/she/it will sew

we will sew

you will sew

they will sew

Future continuous

I will be sewing

you will be sewing

he/she/it will be sewing

we will be sewing

you will be sewing

they will be sewing

Future perfect

I will have sewed

you will have sewed

he/she/it will have sewed

we will have sewed

you will have sewed

they will have sewed

Future perfect continuous

I will have been sewing

you will have been sewing

he/she/it will have been sewing

we will have been sewing

you will have been sewing

they will have been sewing

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would sew

you would sew

he/she/it would sew

we would sew

you would sew

they would sew

Conditional continuous

I would be sewing

you would be sewing

he/she/it would be sewing

we would be sewing

you would be sewing

they would be sewing

Conditional perfect

I would have sew

you would have sew

he/she/it would have sew

we would have sew

you would have sew

they would have sew

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been sewing

you would have been sewing

he/she/it would have been sewing

we would have been sewing

you would have been sewing

they would have been sewing

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you sew
we let´s sew
you sew

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to sew

Past participle

sewed

Present Participle

sewing

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «SEW»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «sew» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of sew

baste · hem · seam · stitch · tack

TRANSLATION OF SEW

Find out the translation of sew to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of sew from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «sew» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 缝纫
• Translator English - Spanish: coser
• English: sew
• Translator English - Hindi: सीना
• Translator English - Arabic: يُخَيِّطُ
• Translator English - Russian: шить
• Translator English - Portuguese: costurar
• Translator English - Bengali: সেলাই করা
• Translator English - French: coudre
• Translator English - Malay: Menjahit
• Translator English - German: nähen
• Translator English - Japanese: 縫う
• Translator English - Korean: 꿰매다
• Translator English - Javanese: Jahitan
• Translator English - Vietnamese: khâu
• Translator English - Tamil: தை
• Translator English - Marathi: शिवणे
• Translator English - Turkish: dikmek
• Translator English - Italian: cucire
• Translator English - Polish: uszyć
• Translator English - Ukrainian: шити
• Translator English - Romanian: a coase
• Translator English - Greek: ράβω
• Translator English - Afrikaans: naaldwerk
• Translator English - Swedish: sy
• Translator English - Norwegian: sy

10 QUOTES WITH «SEW»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word sew.

1

Moran Atias

I always liked creativity, whether it was to draw or sew - any creative assignment I was getting from school, or just on my own.

2

Douglas Brinkley

When I was 8 years old, I made my own encyclopedia of American biography - Johnny Appleseed, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Charles Lindbergh, my pantheon of favorite heroes. Then I would write my own things and sew them together and try to make my own book.

3

Carrie Brownstein

I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.

4

Chelsea Cain

Writing tips are like mini skirts. Sometimes they fit perfectly, sometimes they make you cry, and sometimes you can reuse the material and sew yourself a pillow or something.

5

Sophie Kennedy Clark

I was a feral child. Always on the go. My mother used to sew bells into my dresses so they would know where I was.

6

Tim Conway

I like to work a lot with wood. I make furniture that falls apart. I also sew.

7

Harry Crosby

I have invited our little seamstress to take her thread and needle and sew our two mouths together.

8

Fran Drescher

I told her I wanted a plastic surgeon to sew me up, and I wanted her to freeze my ovaries, so I could harvest the eggs and have a biological child through a surrogate.

9

Amanda Harlech

Couture has a power that ready-to-wear can never have; the attention of les petites mains as they sew; all that love and belief goes into the cloth. That's what you feel when you wear it.

10

Julianne Hough

There was a time when my mum would sew costumes for the dance studio so we could keep doing our classes because we couldn't afford them.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SEW»

Discover the use of sew in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to sew and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

S.E.W.: Sew Everything Workshop : the Complete Step-by-step ...

The Book A lively how to and why to sew tutorial that marries attitude and instruction while teaching everything you need to know: How to find the right machine, and become one with it Essential skills, from winding a bobbin to sewing a ...

Diana Rupp, 2007

Sew Sunny Homestyle

Over fifty projects for everything from cushions to soft toys.

Tone Finnanger, 2009

We Love to Sew: 30 Pretty Things to Make

Presents twenty-eight projects to sew for the beginning crafter, providing tips on essential sewing techniques and including such sewing projects as hair barrettes, tote bags, pillows, and stuffed toys.

Annabel Wrigley, 2013

Sew!: Exclusive Cath Kidston Designs for Over 40 Simple ...

Offers sewing projects with vintage flair, including a cardigan with an embroidered rose pattern, a tote bag with a starry motif, and a strawberry-decked apron.

Cath Kidston, 2010

Learn to Sew

Sewing may be the most rewarding and practical craft of all.

Alison Reid, 2008

The Best of Sew Simple Magazine: Over 50 Quick Projects

Revamp a room or make over your wardrobe. You can easily customize your world with these 50+ projects for home decor, clothing, and gifts. Happy sewing! The Best of Sew Simple Magazine (Leisure Arts #4826)

Beth Bradley, 2009

How to Sew Pleated Drapes

If you're a beginner, every single step is spelled out for you, with clear easy-to-understand diagrams. No longer will you be left confused and frustrated. Design, sew and hang your drapes... with "How To Sew Pleated Drapes.

Jennifer Thoden, 2005

Storybook Toys: Sew 16 Projects from Once Upon a Time • ...

Learn toy-making tips to give your creation personal style and a sweet disposition. Author Jill Hamor gives ideas for involving children in the process to teach them basic sewing skills.

Jill Hamor, 2012

Sew Eco: Sewing Sustainable and Re-Used Materials

This book will guide readers through a series of stylish sewing projects with a focus on sourcing and using sustainable fabrics.

Ruth Singer, 2010

Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time

A guide to essential sewing skills covers stitching and sewing machine essentials and offers step-by-step photo instructions for a variety of projects including a simple tote, a cap-sleeved blouse, and an A-line skirt.

Deborah Moebes, 2010

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SEW»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term sew is used in the context of the following news items.

The secret to no-sew cosplay

SAN DIEGO - A local woman spends almost the entire year preparing for Comic-Con by designing and making elaborate costumes -- and she doesn't sew. «10News, Jul 15»

Brooklyn's Eco-Friendly Sewing Camp Introduces Kids to Fashion …

Kids at Sew Green Summer Camp learn the basics of sewing, an introduction to style, details on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, photo shoots, sketching and ... «DNAinfo, Jul 15»

Creative Learning Corporation Awards First Five Sew Fun Studios …

BUSINESS WIRE)--Creative Learning Corporation (OTCQX:CLCN), owner and developer of Bricks 4 Kidz,® Challenge Island®, and Sew Fun Studios® the ... «Business Wire, May 15»

Turn Your Old T-Shirts Into a Memory Blanket, No Sewing Required

Instead of tossing all of those t-shirts that don't fit you anymore, you can turn them into a blanket comprised of memories. You don't even have to sew it together. «Lifehacker, Apr 15»

Hear Prurient's 'Decadent' New Industrial Assault 'Dragonflies to …

According to Fernow, no song on the record exemplifies what he calls the "chaotic and decadent mess" of Frozen Niagara Falls more than “Dragonflies to Sew ... «RollingStone.com, Mar 15»

A sewing machine is a power tool after all

Matt might only have scraped into the final alongside glamorous granny Lorna, a 68-year-old former air hostess who began sewing at school to make clothes for ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Mar 15»

The Great British Sewing Bee: Matt Chapple named winner after …

Matt, who started to sew when he was in the army aged 16, said winning the title ... efforts, Patrick said “Matt kept his very best for the very last sewing challenge. «The Independent, Mar 15»

2015 SD State Fair Theme: "Sew It. Grow It. Show It"

“Sew It. Grow It. Show It. is intended to remind fair goers of the memories they are making and the traditions they are starting. Sewing and growing memories and ... «KDLT News, Jan 15»

Volunteers can help sew pieces for 'The March Quilts,' including …

"March Quilts" was created by Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, a sewing cooperative in Birmingham's Woodlawn neighborhood, and the cooperative has partnered with ... «AL.com, Jan 15»

Vapor Apparel, a leader in performance apparel manufacturing and …

The facility will house the company's domestic cut and sew division, which is a rapidly expanding part of the company's product line. The establishment of this ... «Area Development Online, Jan 15»