straw

noun \ ˈstrȯ \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Definition of straw

1 a : stalks of grain after threshing; broadly : dry stalky plant residue used like grain straw (as for bedding or packing)

b : a natural or artificial heavy fiber used for weaving, plaiting, or braiding

2 : a dry coarse stem especially of a cereal grass

3 a (1) : something of small worth or significance

(2) : something too insubstantial to provide support or help in a desperate situation

clutching at straws

b : chaff 2

4 a : something (such as a hat) made of straw

b : a tube (as of paper, plastic, or glass) for sucking up a beverage

5 : straw yellow

—

strawy

play \ˈstrȯ-ē\ adjective

— straw in the wind

: a slight fact that is an indication of a coming event

See straw defined for English-language learners

See straw defined for kids

Examples of straw in a Sentence

He was chewing on a straw.
He asked for a straw for his iced tea.
She drank the juice through a straw.

Recent Examples of straw from the Web

The straw totes are woven by artisans from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, and embellished with colorful handles, pompoms and pop and hip-hop lyrics.

— SFChronicle.com, "25 ways to chase your perfect Bay Area summer," 11 July 2018
The last plastic straw: EcoGlass Straws, a shop based in Hood River, Ore., is one such small business that has seen its niche craft boom to meet skyrocketing demand for alternatives to plastic straws.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: How Brett Kavanaugh could rein in environmental rules on the Supreme Court," 11 July 2018
Many fans, coaches and even some administrators point to the game as a tipping point that toppled the system, the final straw that forced decision-makers to bring about a change.

— ross dellenger, SI.com, "Did the LSU-Alabama Rematch Really Kill the BCS?," 10 July 2018
There are tapioca Boba pearls inside, a surprise slurping up my straw.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Theme-park foods get a little freaky," 3 July 2018
The only waste here is the milk carton, the straw and its wrapper.

— jenni marsh, CNN, "Our children's plastic lives seen through lunches," 7 June 2018
The straws come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, for about $9 each.

— lara sorokanich, Popular Mechanics, "Why I Use a Glass Straw," 17 May 2018
But one of my sisters pulled the short straw and is sleeping on the pullout coach in the living room.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "24 hours at Pechanga: Gambling, eating, pampering and yoga," 29 Apr. 2018
Mooch orders an iced tea, sucks it down, dips his wet straw into a packet of Splenda and brings it to his mouth, again and again, like a humming bird extracting nectar.

— rich cohen, The Hollywood Reporter, "One F—ing Awesome Night Out With The Mooch in New York," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'straw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of straw

Middle English, from Old English strēaw; akin to Old High German strō straw, Old English strewian to strew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

straw

adjective

Definition of straw

1 : made of straw

a straw hat

2 : of, relating to, or used for straw

a straw barn

3 : of the color of straw : pale yellow in color

straw hair

4 : of little or no value : worthless

5 : of, relating to, resembling, or being a straw man

6 : of, relating to, or concerned with the discovery of preferences by means of a straw vote

Examples of straw in a Sentence

the cheese maker told us that the best Parmesan cheeses are straw, not white, in color

Recent Examples of straw from the Web

The nation's largest auto finance company has dropped its lawsuit against auto dealer Russ Darrow over loans to what turned out to be straw buyers of luxury vehicles destined for China via a con man's business.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Finance firm drops suit against Russ Darrow dealership over straw buyers for fugitive con man," 24 Apr. 2018
Straw bags with pom-pom accents are sure to please.

— NOLA.com, "4 cool new shops and galleries to discover around New Orleans," 8 July 2017
Straw blinds go up to the ceiling, concealing the fact that the windows are much shorter.

— lisa cregan, House Beautiful, "An Empty "White Cube" Apartment Gets Its Masterpiece Theatre Moment," 19 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of straw

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

straw Synonyms

Synonyms

blond (or blonde), fair, flaxen, golden, sandy, tawny;

Near Antonyms

black-a-vised, brown, brunet (or brunette), dark, olive, swart, swarthy;

black, ebony, raven;

gold, light, white;

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

STRAW Defined for English Language Learners

straw

noun

Definition of straw for English Language Learners

: the dry stems of wheat and other grain plants
: a single dry stem of a grain plant
: a thin tube used for sucking up a drink

STRAW Defined for Kids

straw

noun \ ˈstrȯ \

Definition of straw for Students

1 : dry plant stems (as of grain after threshing)

a mat of straw

2 : a slender tube for sucking up a beverage

Learn More about straw

See words that rhyme with straw Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for straw Spanish Central: Translation of straw Nglish: Translation of straw for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of straw for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about straw

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straw

Definition of straw

strawy

Examples of straw in a Sentence

Recent Examples of straw from the Web

Origin and Etymology of straw

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

straw

Definition of straw

Examples of straw in a Sentence

Recent Examples of straw from the Web

First Known Use of straw

straw Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

Phrases Related to STRAW

Related Phrases

STRAW Defined for English Language Learners

straw

Definition of straw for English Language Learners

STRAW Defined for Kids

straw

Definition of straw for Students

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