Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Straw
Straw
,Noun.
[OE.
straw
, stre
, stree
, AS. streáw
, from the root of E. strew
; akin to OFries. strē
, D. stroo
, G. stroh
, OHG. strō
, Icel. strā
, Dan. straa
, Sw. strå
. √166. See Strew
.] 1.
A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease.
2.
The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.;
as, a bundle, or a load, of rye
. straw
3.
Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere trifle.
I set not a
straw
by thy dreamings. Chaucer.
☞ Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like.
Man of straw
, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an irresponsible person; a puppet.
– Straw bail
, worthless bail, as being given by irresponsible persons.
[Colloq. U.S.]
– Straw bid
, a worthless bid; a bid for a contract which the bidder is unable or unwilling to fulfill.
[Colloq. U.S.]
– Straw cat
(Zool.)
, the pampas cat.
– Straw color
, the color of dry straw, being a delicate yellow.
– Straw drain
, a drain filled with straw.
– Straw plait
, or Straw plat
a strip formed by plaiting straws, used for making hats, bonnets, etc.
– To be in the straw
, to be brought to bed, as a pregnant woman.
[Slang]
Webster 1828 Edition
Straw
STRAW
,Noun.
1.
The stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, &c. Chiefly of wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat and peas. When used of single stalks, it admits of a plural, straws. Straws may show which way the wind blows. We say of grain while growing, the straw is large, or it is rusty.2.
A mass of the stalks of certain species of grain when cut, and after being thrashed; as a bundle or a load of straw. In this sense, the word admits not the plural number.3.
Any thing proverbially worthless. I care not a straw for the play. I will not abate a straw.STRAW
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
Straw
straw
straw
See also: Straw
English
Noun
straw (countable and uncountable, plural straws)
- (countable) A dried stalk of a cereal plant.
- (uncountable) Such dried stalks considered collectively.
- (countable) A drinking straw.
- A pale, yellowish beige colour, like that of a dried straw.
-
straw colour:
-
- (figuratively) Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing.
- 1889, Robin Hood and the Tanner, Francis James Child (editor), The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 3, page 138:
- ‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,
- Nor all thine arrows to boot;
- If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,
- Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’
- 1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers:
- He also decided, which was more to his purpose, that Eleanor did not care a straw for him, and that very probably she did care a straw for his rival.
- 1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque:
- To be deeply interested in the accidents of our existence, to enjoy keenly the mixed texture of human experience, rather leads a man to disregard precautions, and risk his neck against a straw.
- 1889, Robin Hood and the Tanner, Francis James Child (editor), The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 3, page 138:
Derived terms
Translations
a dried stalk of a cereal plant
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dried stalks considered collectively
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drinking straw — see drinking straw
colour
Adjective
straw (not comparable)
- Made of straw.
- straw hat
- Of a pale, yellowish beige colour, like that of a dried straw.
- (figuratively) Imaginary, but presented as real.
- A straw enemy built up in the media to seem like a real threat, which then collapses like a balloon.
Translations
made of straw
of a pale, yellowish beige colour
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Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun or adjective straw
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