streɪt adj., n., & adv. --adj. 1 a extending uniformly in
the same direction;
without a
curve or bend etc. b Geom. (of a line) lying on the shortest
path between any two of
its points. 2
successive,
uninterrupted (three straight wins). 3 in
proper order or
place or
condition;
duly arranged;
level, symmetrical (is the
picture straight?; put things straight). 4
honest,
candid;
not evasive (a straight answer). 5 (of
thinking etc.)
logical,
unemotional. 6 (of
drama etc.)
serious as opposed to
popular or
comic; employing the
conventional techniques of its art
form. 7 a
unmodified. b (of a drink)
undiluted. 8 colloq. (of music)
classical. 9 colloq. a (of a
person etc.) conventional or
respectable. b
heterosexual. 10 (of an arch) flat-topped. 11 (of a person's back) not bowed. 12 (of the hair) not
curly or
wavy. 13 (of a knee) not bent. 14 (of the legs) not bandy or knock-kneed. 15 (of a garment) not flared. 16
coming direct from its
source. 17 (of an
aim,
look, blow, or course)
going direct to the mark. --n. 1 the straight
part of
something,
esp. the concluding
stretch of a
racecourse. 2 a straight condition. 3 a
sequence of
five cards in poker. 4 colloq. a conventional person; a heterosexual. --adv. 1 in a straight line; direct; without
deviation or hesitation or
circumlocution (came straight from Paris; I
told them straight). 2 in the
right direction,
with a
good aim (shoot straight). 3 correctly (can't see straight). 4
archaic at
once or
immediately. øgo straight live an honest
life after being a
criminal. the straight
and narrow morally
correct behaviour. straight
angle an angle of 180(0). straight
away at once; immediately. straight-bred not cross-bred. straight-cut (of tobacco)
cut lengthwise into long
silky fibres. straight-edge a bar with
one edge accurately straight, used
for testing. straight-eight 1 an internal-combustion
engine with
eight cylinders in line. 2 a
vehicle having
this. straight
eye the
ability to
detect deviation from the straight. straight
face an intentionally expressionless face, esp. avoiding a
smile though amused. straight-faced having a straight face. straight
fight Brit. Polit. a direct
contest between two candidates. straight flush see
FLUSH(3). straight from the
shoulder 1 (of a blow) well delivered. 2 (of a
verbal attack)
frank or direct. straight
man a comedian's
stooge. straight
off colloq. without hesitation,
deliberation, etc. (cannot tell
you straight off). straight-out US 1
uncompromising. 2
straightforward,
genuine. straight
razor US a
cutthroat razor. øøstraightly adv. straightness n. [ME,
past part. of STRETCH]