noun Uncommon

chow

Chow (noun) means Informal: food, especially a meal or snack. Example: “Grab some chow before the game starts.”

noun

Informal: food, especially a meal or snack.

"Grab some chow before the game starts."

Short for Chow Chow, a fluffy Chinese dog breed known for its blue-black tongue.

"Their chow slept most of the afternoon in the shade."

verb

Informal: to eat, especially heartily ("chow down").

"They chowed down on burgers after the hike."

How to use chow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCasual word for food or eating, or the name of a fluffy dog breed.

When to use it

The "food" and "eat" senses are informal.

Common pairings

chow down grab some chow

Word forms

chowed past tense, chowed past tense, chows plural, chows plural, chows plural, Chows plural, chows singular, chows singular

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Grab some _____ before the game starts.

Etymology

Shortened from chow-chow, from Chinese Pidgin English.

Origin: Chinese

Synonyms

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chuck eats Zhou grub Chou chow chow

Related words

made food friend leave China sick throw Charles

Rhymes for chow

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Frequently asked questions

What does “chow” mean?

The word “chow” means informal: food, especially a meal or snack. In plain terms, casual word for food or eating, or the name of a fluffy dog breed.

How do you pronounce “chow”?

“Chow” is pronounced chow (/t͡ʃaʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “chow” in a sentence?

Here is “chow” used in a sentence: “Grab some chow before the game starts.”

What part of speech is “chow”?

Depending on how it is used, “chow” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “chow” come from?

The word “chow” comes from Chinese. Shortened from chow-chow, from Chinese Pidgin English.

Is “chow” a common word?

“Chow” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “chow” have?

“Chow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: food, especially a meal or snack.

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Vocabulary lists that include chow:

Words with Chinese origins Words that end with W

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