Meanings
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1
noun
a long, thin pin of metal or wood used to hold pieces of food during cooking
She threaded peppers and mushrooms onto a wooden skewer.
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2
verb
to pierce or impale something with a skewer or another long, sharp object
The sharpened cane could skewer anyone who fell onto it.
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3
noun
food, especially pieces of meat or vegetables, cooked and served on a skewer
He ordered a lamb skewer with grilled onions and rice.
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4
verb
figurative: to criticize, expose, or mock someone or something severely
The columnist used dry satire to skewer the minister's excuses.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English skeuier or skuer, probably a variant of skever or skiver and likely of North Germanic origin. It has been compared with Icelandic skífa and Scandinavian words meaning "slice" or "slab." The figurative verb extends the physical image of piercing a target.