straw

\ ˈstrȯ

Definition of straw

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a(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 sense 2

4a : 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

straw in the wind

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

straw

adjective

Definition of straw (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from straw Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about straw

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Examples of straw in a Sentence

Noun He was chewing on a straw. He asked for a straw for his iced tea. She drank the juice through a straw. Adjective the cheese maker told us that the best Parmesan cheeses are straw, not white, in color

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Trump looks for support (and cash) in a blue state California — with its plastic straw bans, sanctuary laws and liberal Hollywood elite — has proven to be a common target for President Donald Trump. — Arlene Martinez, USA TODAY, "In California: A Trump visit, a profiteering slumlord and a trusting tiger," 19 Feb. 2020 Water bottles, cups and straws are everywhere and someone has to clean up. — Kori Williams, Seventeen, "Billie Eilish Bans Plastic Straws At Upcoming World Tour Venues In Effort to Be Eco-Friendly," 3 Feb. 2020 The Iowa Secretary of State's office conducts a youth straw poll among high schoolers of all ages across the state, which includes both Democrats and Republicans. — NBC News, "High school kids get ready to caucus as Iowa looks to the youth vote," 29 Jan. 2020 But Rumpelstiltskin, the magical imp who spun straw into gold, would be impressed with the latest chemical wizardry. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Electricity turns garbage into graphene," 27 Jan. 2020 Who would brave mud, late-night pull-downs, rats in the straw-bales, leaky caravans, temperamental animals, lack of loos, lack of baths, unless they had been born to it? — The Economist, "The triumph of magic Obituary: Nell Gifford died on December 8th," 23 Jan. 2020 Restaurants must stop using plastic straws by the end of this year. — James Osborne, Houston Chronicle, "China bans single use plastics," 20 Jan. 2020 At the center of their table stands a squat Chianti bottle in a straw bodice, with a candle stuck into its mouth. — Stephen O’connor, Harper's magazine, "The Interpretation of Dreams," 20 Jan. 2020 Though the country still had that last 20 percent, trying to route a water main of web traffic through a drinking straw resulted in near-total connectivity failure. — Lily Hay Newman, Wired, "Cut Undersea Cable Plunges Yemen Into Days-Long Internet Outage," 13 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective 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 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

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.