straight

¹straight

adjective \ˈstrāt\

Definition of STRAIGHT

1

a : free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities <straight hair> <straight timber>

b : generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation <a straight line> <the straight segment of a curve>

2

a : lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method <a straight thinker>

b : candid, frank <a straight answer>

c : coming directly from a trustworthy source <a straight tip on the horses>

d (1) : having the elements in an order <the straight sequence of events> (2) : consecutive <12 straight days>

e : having the cylinders arranged in a single straight line <a straight 8-cylinder engine>

f : plumb, vertical <the picture isn't quite straight>

3

a : exhibiting honesty and fairness <straight dealing>

b : properly ordered or arranged <set the kitchen straight> <set us straight on that issue>; also : correct <get the facts straight>

c : free from extraneous matter : unmixed <straight whiskey>

d : marked by no exceptions or deviations in support of a principle or party <votes a straight Democratic ticket>

e : having a fixed price for each regardless of the number sold

f : not deviating from an indicated pattern <writes straight humor> <a straight-A student>

g (1) : exhibiting no deviation from what is established or accepted as usual, normal, or proper : conventional; also : square 5f (2) : not using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol

h : heterosexual

4

: being the only form of remuneration <on straight commission>

— straight·ish \ˈstrā-tish\ adjective

— straight·ly adverb

— straight·ness noun

Examples of STRAIGHT

1. She has long, straight hair.
2. The flagpole is perfectly straight.
3. The picture isn't quite straight.
4. We sat in the airport for five straight hours.

Origin of STRAIGHT

Middle English streght, straight, from past participle of strecchen to stretch — more at stretch

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STRAIGHT

Synonyms

direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward

Antonyms

bad, black, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unethical, unrighteous, wicked, wrong

Related Words

unbent, uncurled, untwisted; undeviating, unswerving

Near Antonyms

bowed, rounded; entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped; bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looped, looping, spiral, spiraling (or spiralling), wavy, winding; meandering, weaving; devious, serpentine, sinuous; crooked, zigzag, zigzagging

Rhymes with STRAIGHT

ait, bait, bate, blate, cate, crate, date, eight, fate, fete, freight, gait, gate, grate, great, haet, hate, late, mate, pate, plait, plate, prate, quoit, rate, sate, skate, slate, spate, state, strait, teth, trait, wait, weight

²straight

adverb

Definition of STRAIGHT

: in a straight manner <came straight home from work>

Examples of STRAIGHT

1. She walked straight up to him and slapped him in the face.
2. The tunnel goes straight through the mountain.
3. The library is straight ahead.
4. He was so drunk he couldn't walk straight.
5. She sat with her legs straight out.
6. The tree fell straight down.
7. The car went straight off the road.
8. She told him straight to his face that she hated him.
9. Pine trees stood straight along the path.
10. Sit up straight and don't slouch.

First Known Use of STRAIGHT

14th century

Related to STRAIGHT

Synonyms

dead, direct, due, plumb, plump, right, directly, straightway

Antonyms

indirectly

Related Words

baldly, bluffly, candidly, frankly, honestly, openheartedly, openly, unguardedly, unreservedly; artlessly, earnestly, simply, sincerely; abruptly, bluntly, brusquely, curtly, gruffly, point-blank, sharply; impolitely, inconsiderately, rudely, tactlessly; truthfully, veraciously

Near Antonyms

circuitously, deviously, veeringly

³straight

transitive verb

Definition of STRAIGHT

chiefly Scottish

: straighten

First Known Use of STRAIGHT

15th century

⁴straight

noun

Definition of STRAIGHT

1

: something that is straight: as

a : a straight line or arrangement

b : straightaway; especially : homestretch

c : a true or honest report or course

2

a : a sequence (as of shots, strokes, or moves) resulting in a perfect score in a game or contest

b : first place at the finish of a horse race : win

3

: a poker hand containing five cards in sequence but not of the same suit — see poker illustration

4

: a person who adheres to conventional attitudes and mores

First Known Use of STRAIGHT

1645