sow 1
— sowable , adj. — sower , n.
/soh/ , v. , sowed, sown or sowed, sowing .
v.t.
1. to scatter (seed) over land, earth, etc., for growth; plant.
2. to plant seed for: to sow a crop.
3. to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth.
4. to implant, introduce, or promulgate; seek to propagate or extend; disseminate: to sow distrust or dissension.
5. to strew or sprinkle with anything.
v.i.
6. to sow seed, as for the production of a crop.
[ bef. 900; ME sowen, OE sawan; c. D zaaien, G säen, ON sa, Goth saian; akin to SEED, L semen seed, serere to sow ]
Syn. 4. inject, lodge, circulate.
sow 2
— sowlike , adj.
/sow/ , n.
1. an adult female swine.
2. the adult female of various other animals, as the bear.
3. Metall.
a. a large oblong mass of iron that has solidified in the common channel through which the molten metal flows to the smaller channels in which the pigs solidify.
b. the common channel itself.
c. a basin holding any of certain molten nonferrous metals to be cast.
[ bef. 900; ME sowe, OE sugu; c. G Sau, ON syr, L sus, Gk hûs, Tocharian B suwo; see SWINE ]