noun B1 Intermediate Common

straw

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Straw (noun) means Dried stalks left over from cereal crops like wheat, used for bedding, fodder, or thatch. Example: “The farmer baled the straw after the wheat harvest was finished.”

noun

Dried stalks left over from cereal crops like wheat, used for bedding, fodder, or thatch.

"The farmer baled the straw after the wheat harvest was finished."

"They spread fresh straw across the stable floor."

"The old barn was stacked to the roof with straw."

A thin tube used for sucking up a drink.

"Can I have a straw for my lemonade, please?"

"The child blew bubbles into her juice through a bendy straw."

"She popped a straw into her milkshake."

Something considered practically worthless, as in the phrase "not worth a straw."

"After the argument, his apology felt as if it was not worth a straw."

"Honestly, their advice was not worth a straw, so I ignored it."

"His promises weren't worth a straw."

How to use straw

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe dry stalks left after harvesting grain, or the drinking tube shaped like one.

Common mistake

Don't confuse straw (dried stalks) with hay (dried grass grown as feed) — straw is a harvest byproduct, hay is grown specifically to be cut and fed to animals.

Easily confused with

hay →

Common pairings

bale of straw the last straw drinking straw straw hat

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: straws
Third person singular: straws
Past tense: strawed

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer baled the _____ after the wheat harvest was finished.

Etymology

From Old English streaw, related to a root meaning "to strew" or scatter — straw is literally the stuff that gets strewn on the ground.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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stubble chaff stalk wheat husk shuck

Related words

kid hunt shell Josh stem wheat hull mock

Rhymes for straw

raw draw craw McGraw

See all rhymes for straw →

Frequently asked questions

What does “straw” mean?

The word “straw” means dried stalks left over from cereal crops like wheat, used for bedding, fodder, or thatch. In plain terms, the dry stalks left after harvesting grain, or the drinking tube shaped like one.

How do you pronounce “straw”?

“Straw” is pronounced straw (/stɹɔ/ in IPA).

How do you use “straw” in a sentence?

Here is “straw” used in a sentence: “They spread fresh straw across the stable floor.”

What part of speech is “straw”?

“Straw” is a noun.

Where does the word “straw” come from?

The word “straw” comes from Old English. From Old English streaw, related to a root meaning "to strew" or scatter — straw is literally the stuff that gets strewn on the ground.

Is “straw” a common word?

“Straw” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “straw” have?

“Straw” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dried stalks left over from cereal crops like wheat, used for bedding, fodder, or thatch.

What is the difference between straw and hay?

Straw consists of the dried stalks left over after cereal crops such as wheat have been harvested, and it is used mainly for animal bedding, thatch, and sometimes fodder. Hay is grass or similar plants cut and dried specifically to feed animals, so hay is grown as food while straw is a harvest by-product.

What is a straw man argument?

A straw man argument misrepresents someone's position as a weaker or more extreme version so it can be knocked down easily. The name pictures a flimsy dummy made of straw, which is far easier to defeat than a real opponent.

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