stew

A meal of meat, vegetables, or both cooked slowly together in liquid.

• We had beef stew for dinner.
• This vegetable stew needs more salt.
• She made a large pot of stew for everyone.

Common phrases: beef stew, vegetable stew, bowl of stew

A cooked mixture, often with vegetables or meat, served with foods such as rice or pasta.

• Serve the stew over rice.
• She spooned tomato stew onto the pasta.
• The beans came with a rich pepper stew.

Similar words: sauce

Common phrases: stew over rice, rice and stew, tomato stew

A state of worry, nervous excitement, or confusion.

• He was in a stew about the exam.
• Do not get into a stew over one mistake.
• The missing tickets put everyone in a stew.

How to use it: in a stew about/over something (She was in a stew about the interview.)

Similar words: state, fluster

Common phrases: in a stew, get into a stew, such a stew

Unwanted background sounds picked up by a microphone during recording.

• The recording was full of mike stew.
• Moving the microphone reduced the stew.
• The engineer removed some stew from the audio track.

Similar words: background noise

Common phrases: mike stew, microphone stew

To cook food slowly in liquid, with gentle heat.

• Stew the apples until soft.
• She stewed the beef in wine.
• The vegetables are stewing gently on the stove.

How to use it: stew something in something (Stew the meat in a little stock.)

Similar words: simmer

Common phrases: stew some meat, stew the apples, stew in something

To leave tea brewing too long, making its taste unpleasantly strong.

• Do not stew the tea.
• He stewed it by leaving the leaves in too long.
• The tea had been stewing for twenty minutes.

Similar words: overbrew

Common phrases: stew the tea, let tea stew