Stew
/stuː/
nounverbA2
Definition
As a noun, stew is a dish made by cooking meat and vegetables slowly in water or sauce until soft and tasty. As a verb, stew means to think deeply or worry about something for a long time without taking action.
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See It in Action
A meal made by cooking meat and vegetables slowly in liquid
- •I made a beef stew for dinner last night.
- •The stew was full of carrots, potatoes, and tender meat.
- •After hiking, we ate a warm stew to feel better.
To think or worry about something for a long time
- •She stewed over the problem all night and couldn’t sleep.
- •Don’t stew about what you can’t change.
- •He stewed in silence after hearing the bad news.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'stew' like 'soup' (A1 word), but thicker and cooked longer with bigger pieces of food
- ✓Picture a pot on the stove with meat and vegetables slowly cooking and mixing together, making a warm, rich meal
- ✓It's the feeling when you keep thinking about a problem inside your mind, like it is 'cooking' slowly without stopping
- ✓Sounds like 'stew' → imagine a pot bubbling quietly, holding many flavors together, just like your thoughts bubbling inside
- ✓Think of a slow cooker or grandma’s kitchen where stew warms everyone on a cold day
- ✓NOT like 'boil' (fast, strong heat), 'stew' is slow and gentle cooking
- ✓NOT like 'worry' (quick feeling), 'stew' means long, slow thinking or worrying inside your mind
- ✓NOT like 'soup' (more liquid), 'stew' is thicker and heartier with chunks of food
Try Other Words
- •Simmer: cook slowly in liquid (Use when talking about cooking but with less thick food)
- •Broth: thin soup (Use when the food is more liquid and clear)
- •Fret: to be nervous or worried (Use when talking about quick or small worries)
- •Ponder: to think carefully (Use when thinking deeply but not necessarily worrying)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) — simple base word 'stew'
- •Etymology: From Old English 'stewian,' meaning to cook by boiling or steaming
- •Historical development: Originally meant to cook food slowly in liquid; later also used to describe slow thinking or worrying
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for both the food and the act of worrying or thinking deeply, especially in informal speech
Reflect & Connect
•When have you ever "stewed" over a problem instead of talking about it or solving it?
•How does cooking a stew slowly compare to how our thoughts or worries develop over time?
Fill in the blanks
1.I left the meat to ___ slowly on the stove for several hours to make it tender and tasty.
2.She was ___ over the exam results all weekend and didn’t enjoy her free time.
3.Unlike quick cooking, making a stew requires ___ heat and time to mix flavors well.
4.When you ___ about something, it means you keep thinking about it without taking action.
5.The kitchen smelled warm and cozy because the ___ was bubbling on the stove.
6.Instead of worrying, try to find a solution rather than just ___ inside your head.
7.The stew had ___ pieces of vegetables and meat, making it filling and rich.