From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
straw
adj : of a pale yellow color like straw; straw colored
n 1: plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as
fodder
2: material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of
stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
[syn: chaff, husk, shuck, stalk, stubble]
3: a yellow tint; yellow diluted with white [syn: {pale
yellow}]
4: a thin paper or plastic tube used to such liquids into the
mouth [syn: drinking straw]
v 1: cover or provide with or as if with straw; "cows were
strawed to weather the snowstorm"
2: spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic); "strew toys all
over the carpet" [syn: strew]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Straw \Straw\, v. t.
To spread or scatter. See Strew, and Strow. --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Straw \Straw\, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. stre['a]w, from
the root of E. strew; akin to OFries. str[=e], D. stroo, G.
stroh, OHG. str[=o], Icel. str[=a], Dan. straa, Sw. str[*a].
[root]166. See Strew.]
1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc.,
especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of
buckwheat, beans, and pease.
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2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of
grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw.
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3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing;
a mere trifle.
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I set not a straw by thy dreamings. --Chaucer.
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Note: Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned,
straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like.
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Man of straw, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of
a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an
irresponsible person; a puppet.
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