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.
Phrases and idioms:
catch (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.
Derivatives:
strawy adj.
Etymology: OE streaw f. Gmc, rel. to STREW