Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - sow

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Old English sugu; akin to Old English & Old High German su ~, Latin sus pig, swine, hog, Greek hys  Date: before 12th century  1. an adult female swine; also the adult female of various other animals (as a bear)  2.  a. a channel that conducts molten metal to molds  b. a mass of metal solidified in such a mold ; ingot  II. verb  (~ed; ~n or ~ed; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sawan; akin to Old High German sawen to ~, Latin serere, Lithuanian seti  Date: before 12th century  intransitive verb  1. to plant seed for growth especially by scattering  2. to set something in motion ; begin an enterprise  transitive verb  1.  a. to scatter (as seed) upon the earth for growth; broadly plant 1a  b. to strew with or as if with seed  c. to introduce into a selected environment ; implant  2. to set in motion ; foment ~ suspicion  3. to spread abroad ; disperse  • ~er noun