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noun

skewer

SKYOO-uh

Skewer (noun) means a thin metal or wooden rod used to hold pieces of food together while cooking. Example: “Thread the chicken and peppers onto the skewer before grilling.”

noun
1
A thin metal or wooden rod used to hold pieces of food together while cooking.
"Thread the chicken and peppers onto the skewer before grilling."
verb
1
To pierce something through with a skewer or similar pointed object.
"He skewered the marshmallow on a stick."
2
To sharply criticize or mock someone or something.
"The critic skewered the film in her review."

How to use skewer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cooking spike for food, or (figuratively) to pierce through — literally or with harsh criticism.

Common pairings
kebab skewer skewer someone in a review skewer the meat

Word forms

skewered past tense, skewers plural, skewers plural, skewers singular

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Thread the chicken and peppers onto the _____ before grilling.

Etymology

From Middle English, likely related to a North Germanic root connected to words for "slicing," such as Norwegian "skive."

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Rhymes for skewer

See all rhymes for skewer →

Frequently asked questions

What does “skewer” mean?

The word “skewer” means a thin metal or wooden rod used to hold pieces of food together while cooking. In plain terms, a cooking spike for food, or (figuratively) to pierce through — literally or with harsh criticism.

How do you pronounce “skewer”?

“Skewer” is pronounced SKYOO-uh (/ˈskjuː.ɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “skewer” in a sentence?

Here is “skewer” used in a sentence: “Thread the chicken and peppers onto the skewer before grilling.”

What is another word for “skewer”?

Words with a similar meaning to “skewer” include brochette.

What part of speech is “skewer”?

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

Where does the word “skewer” come from?

The word “skewer” comes from Middle English. From Middle English, likely related to a North Germanic root connected to words for "slicing," such as Norwegian "skive.".

How many meanings does “skewer” have?

“Skewer” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin metal or wooden rod used to hold pieces of food together while cooking.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial