noun
mew
MYOO
Mew (noun) means the soft crying sound made by a cat, especially a kitten. Example: “The kitten gave a tiny mew from under the sofa.”
noun
1
The soft crying sound made by a cat, especially a kitten.
"The kitten gave a tiny mew from under the sofa."
verb
1
To make this crying sound, like a cat.
"The cat mewed at the door until someone let it in."
2
To confine or shut something away (an older usage).
"The prisoner was mewed up in a small cell for years."
How to use mew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sound a cat makes, or (in an old-fashioned sense) to lock something away.
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Word forms
- Plural
- mews
- Third person singular
- mews
- Past tense
- mewed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kitten gave a tiny _____ from under the sofa.
Etymology
From Old English mǣw ("seagull"), though the cat-cry sense developed separately as an imitation of the sound itself.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “mew” mean?
The word “mew” means the soft crying sound made by a cat, especially a kitten. In plain terms, the sound a cat makes, or (in an old-fashioned sense) to lock something away.
How do you pronounce “mew”?
“Mew” is pronounced MYOO (/ˈmjuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “mew” in a sentence?
Here is “mew” used in a sentence: “The kitten gave a tiny mew from under the sofa.”
What part of speech is “mew”?
Depending on how it is used, “mew” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mew” come from?
The word “mew” comes from Old English. From Old English mǣw ("seagull"), though the cat-cry sense developed separately as an imitation of the sound itself.
How many meanings does “mew” have?
“Mew” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft crying sound made by a cat, especially a kitten.
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