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Definition of straw
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 strawsb : chaff 2
4a : something (such as a hat) made of strawb : 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
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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
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William H. Pate drew a short straw in life — born in Mississippi in 1845, dead at 16 during the harsh winter of 1861-62 with hundreds of other Confederate soldiers stationed at a Rebel camp in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
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In an image uploaded to her Instagram account in May, the model sits atop an inflatable pink flamingo wearing a swimsuit in a matching rosy hue, retro sunnies and a wide-brimmed straw hat.
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Waistcoats, pockets squares and straw hats: This group of elegant gentlemen seem to have come from another time.
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At this point, Kenny has clearly had it with Lee and all the B.S. he's been forced to deal with — this last low blow might be the straw that breaks the wrestler's back.
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Proper etiquette involves biting off either end of your Tim Tam and using it as an edible straw, from which to suck up hot coffee or chocolate.
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The straw man is a terrible argument nobody really holds, which was only invented so your side had something easy to defeat.
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Don't expect to sip these from a straw though; the thick homemade shakes are served with a spoon instead.
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So many shootings in recent years have also been declared the pivot, the last straw, the one beyond which none could be tolerated.
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
straw
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
First Known Use of straw
15th century
STRAW Defined for English Language Learners
straw
playDefinition of straw for English Language Learners
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: the dry stems of wheat and other grain plants
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: a single dry stem of a grain plant
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: a thin tube used for sucking up a drink
STRAW Defined for Kids
straw
playDefinition 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
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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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