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Added 9 October 2026

straw

/stɹɔː/ noun

Categories: NatureDescribing WordsUncommon Words

In Latin: stipula Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about straw at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder.
  2. Material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds.
  3. A variable yellow tint; dull yellow, often diluted with white.

verb

  1. Cover or provide with or as if with straw.
    cows were strawed to weather the snowstorm
  2. Spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic).
    strew toys all over the carpet

adjective

  1. Of a pale yellow color like straw; straw-colored.

Origin

From Middle English straugh, strauȝ, straw, strawe, strea, streuw, from Old English strēaw, strēow, from Proto-West Germanic *strau, from Proto-Germanic *strawą (“that which is strewn, straw”), from Proto-Indo-European *strew- (“to spread, strew”), from *sterh₃- (“to extend, spread”), from *ster- (“barren, infertile”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: chaffshuckhuskstubblestalkcoloredstrewchromatichaybathwaterbasketryshaw

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