strɔ: n. 1
dry cut stalks of
grain for use as
fodder or as
material for thatching,
packing,
making hats, etc. 2 a
single stalk or
piece of straw. 3 a
thin hollow paper or
plastic tube for
sucking drink from a
glass etc. 4 an
insignificant thing (not
worth a straw). 5
the pale
yellow colour of straw. 6 a straw
hat. øcatch (or grasp) at a straw
resort to an utterly
inadequate expedient in desperation, like a
person drowning. straw boss US an
assistant foreman. straw-colour pale yellow. straw-coloured of pale yellow. straw in the wind a
slight hint of
future developments. straw
vote (or poll) an
unofficial ballot as a test of
opinion. straw-worm a
caddis-worm. øøstrawy adj. [OE streaw f. Gmc, rel. to STREW]