straw

Use straw in a sentence

adjective

The definition of straw is a yellowish color, or made of stocks of grain.
1. An example of something straw is the color of a blonde's hair.
2. An example of straw is a hat made of hollow stalks of grain; a straw hat.

noun

Straw is defined as hollow stalks of grain, or a tube for sucking up liquid.
1. An example of straw is the material from which bundles of hay are made.
2. An example of straw is the tube for drinking a soft drink from a cup.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"straw." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Straw>.

APA Style

straw. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Straw

straw

hollow stalks or stems of grain after threshing, collectively: used for fodder, for bedding, for making hats, etc.
a single one of such stalks
such a stalk or, now esp., a tube of waxed paper, plastic, etc., used for sucking beverages
something, as a hat, made of straw
something of little or no value; worthless trifle
straw man (sense )
see last straw

Origin of straw

Middle English stra from Old English streaw, akin to streawian: see strew

straw-colored; yellowish
made of straw
of little or no value or significance; worthless; meaningless
of or having to do with a straw vote: a straw ballot

straw Idioms

a straw in the wind

an indication of what may happen

grasp (or clutch or catch) at a straw (or straws)

to try any measure, however unlikely, that offers even the slightest hope

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"straw." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 10 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Straw>.

APA Style

straw. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Straw

straw

noun

a. Stalks of threshed grain, used as bedding and food for animals, for thatching, and for weaving or braiding, as into baskets.
b. A single stalk of threshed grain.
Pieces or a piece of natural or artificial strawlike material.
Something, such as a hat or basket, made of straw.
A slender tube used for sucking up a liquid.
a. Something of minimal value or importance.
b. The least valuable bit; a jot: I don't care a straw what you think.
c. Something with too little substance to provide support in a crisis: Near the end we were grasping at straws.

adjective

Of, relating to, or made of straw: a straw mat.
Containing or used for straw, as a barn or feeding trough.
Of the color of straw; yellowish.
a. Of, relating to, or constituting a straw man.
b. Apparently legitimate but actually intended as a cover for illegal or secret activity: set up a straw company to launder money.

Origin of straw

Middle English from Old English strēaw ; see ster-² in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

straw′y
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.