The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stew \Stew\, v. i.
   To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat
   and moisture.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stew \Stew\, n. [OE. stue, stuwe, OF. estuve. See Stew, v. t.]
   1. A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes
      are furnished; a hothouse. [Obs.]
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            As burning Aetna from his boiling stew
            Doth belch out flames.                --Spenser.
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            The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any
            armor, and give themselves to baths and stews.
                                                  --Abp. Abbot.
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   2. A brothel; -- usually in the plural. --Bacon. South.
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            There be that hate harlots, and never were at the
            stews.                                --Aschman.
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   3. A prostitute. [Obs.] --Sir A. Weldon.
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   4. A dish prepared by stewing; as, a stewof pigeons.
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   5. A state of agitating excitement; a state of worry;
      confusion; as, to be in a stew. [Colloq.]
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stew \Stew\, n. [Cf. Stow.]
   1. A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a
      vivarium. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Chaucer. Evelyn.
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   2. An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, U.S.]
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stew \Stew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Stewing.] [OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. ['e]tuver, fr. OF.
   estuve, F. ['e]tuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a
   bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See
   Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.]
   To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to
   seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire,
   without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew
   apples.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

stew
    n 1: agitation resulting from active worry; "don't get in a
         stew"; "he's in a sweat about exams" [syn: fret, stew,
         sweat, lather, swither]
    2: food prepared by stewing especially meat or fish with
       vegetables
    v 1: be in a huff; be silent or sullen [syn: grizzle, brood,
         stew]
    2: bear a grudge; harbor ill feelings [syn: stew, grudge]
    3: cook slowly and for a long time in liquid; "Stew the
       vegetables in wine"