straw S3 /strɔː $ strɒː/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: streaw ]
1 .
a) [uncountable] the dried stems of wheat or similar plants that animals sleep on, and that are used for making things such as baskets, hats etc ⇨ hay :
a straw hat
b) [countable] a single dried stem of straw
2 .
[countable] a thin tube of paper or plastic for sucking up liquid from a bottle or a cup:
She sipped her lemonade through a straw.
3 . the last straw ( also the straw that breaks the camel’s back ) the last problem in a series of problems that finally makes you give up, get angry etc:
Making me work late on Friday was the last straw.
4 . be clutching/grasping at straws to be trying everything you can to succeed, even though the things you are doing are not likely to help or work
5 . straw in the wind British English a sign of what might happen in the future:
There have been a few straws in the wind suggesting things might be getting a little better.
6 . straw man American English a weak opponent or imaginary argument that can easily be defeated
⇨ draw the short straw at ↑ draw 1 (29)