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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like skewer.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- skewers
- Third person singular
- skewers
- Past tense
- skewered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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."
Synonyms
View more →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.
