sow¹ ◙ (past sowed səʊd; past participle sown səʊn 或sowed), [with obj.] 1. plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth • 播（种） »fill a pot with compost and sow a thin layer of seeds on top. 在花盆里施堆肥，然后在上面播种稀疏的一层种子。 plant the seeds of (a plant or crop) • 种（植物，庄稼） »catch crops should be sown after minimal cultivation. 茁壮的庄稼应当在略事耕耘后下种。 plant (a piece of land) with seed • 在（一块地）播种 »the field used to be sown with oats. 这块田过去是种植燕麦的。 (be sown with)be thickly covered with • 布满；覆盖 » we walked through a valley sown with boulders. 我们穿过一个满是怪石的山谷。 lay or plant (an explosive mine) or cover (territory) with mines • 埋（地雷）；将（一地区）布上地雷 »the field had both British and German mines sown in it. 这片地里英国人和德国人都埋了地雷。 cause to appear or spread • 使出现；传播 »the new policy has sown confusion and doubt. 新政策引起了混乱和猜疑。
【IDIOMS】
◘ sow the seed [或seeds] of 1. do something which will eventually bring about (a particular result, especially a disastrous one) • 埋下…的种子（尤指最后会带来恶果的事情） »the seeds of dissension had been sown. 埋下了纠纷的种子。
【派生】
♦ sower noun
【语源】
1. Old English sāwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zaaien and German säensow² ◙ noun 1. an adult female pig, especially one which has farrowed • （尤指产过仔猪的）母猪 the female of certain other mammals, e.g. the guinea pig • 某些雌性哺乳动物（如豚鼠） 2. a large block of metal (larger than a ‘pig’) made by smelting • 铁锭
【IDIOMS】
◘ you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear 1. (proverb)you can't create a fine product from inferior materials • [谚] 劣材难成器
【语源】
1. Old English sugu; related to Dutch zeug, German Sau, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sus and Greek hus 'pig'