The words chews and choose are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones are words that are totally unrelated and have different etymologies, but have the same pronunciation. We will examine the definitions of the words chews and choose, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Chews means to grind something between one’s teeth, to break something up by gnashing one’s teeth. Synonyms of the word chews that may be found in a thesaurus are bites, chomps, munches and masticates. Chew may also be used figuratively in the idiom chew something over, to mean to discuss something or think something over in an analytical manner. The idiom to chew the fat means to indulge in idle conversation, to pass the time engaged in entertaining and leisurely conversation. To chew someone out means to chastise them, to criticize them. Chews is the third person present tense of the verb chew. Chews is also used as a noun, as an idiomatic word for dog treats, known as dog chews. Dog chews may be composed of substances as diverse as chicken jerky, pig ears, or rawhide. Often, these treats are designed to look like bones. Chew toys are not the same as chew sticks, as items such as rawhide chews are designed to clean teeth by ridding them of plaque and tartar, leaving healthy gums. Certain types of chews, known as greenies, can even help abate breath odor, and are digestible for dogs. The word chew is derived from the Old English word ceowan which means to bite or chew. Related words are the verbs chew, chewed, chewing, and the adjective chewy.
Choose means to pick one thing over another, to select something out of a group of things, to prefer one thing over other things. To choose something means to pick one thing, which means that you are rejecting the other things. Synonyms of the word choose that may be found in a thesaurus are select, opt, favor. Choose is the simple present tense and the simple future tense of the verb choose. The word choose is derived from the Old English word ceosan, which means to decide, to select or to approve. Related words are the verbs chose, chosen, choosing, the noun choice and the adjective form, choosy.
Examples
The first step in the production of our rawhide chews starts with our parent company collecting bison, wild boar and Angus beef hides directly from harvesting facilities in the U.S. (Pet Business Magazine)
As if that isn’t bad enough, her dentures are loose again and it’s like sitting next to a horse the way she chews her turkey for four hours. (The Irish Examiner)
My main concern is that he chews on electric cords, including my computer cord and other cords. (The Salem News)
Voters in the Washington County towns of Damascus and Glade Spring will choose their respective mayors and town council members on Election Day on Tuesday. (The Bristol Herald Courier)