of, pertaining to, containing, or made of straw: a straw hat.
10.
of the color of straw; pale yellow.
11.
of little value or consequence; worthless.
12.
sham; fictitious.
—Idioms
13.
catch, clutch, or grasp at a straw, at straws, or at any straw or straws, to seize at any chance, no matter how slight, of saving oneself from calamity.
14.
draw straws, to decide by lottery using straws or strawlike items of different lengths, usually with the short straw or straws determining the person chosen or the loser.
Origin: bef. 950; ME; OE strēaw; c. G Stroh; akin to strew
draw (drô) v.
drew (drōō), drawn (drôn), draw·ing, draws
v.
tr.
To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag: drew the chair closer to the table; a team of horses drawing a wagon. See Synonyms at pull.
To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading: The teacher drew the children into the room to see the decorations.
To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something: draw the curtains.
To extract or take for one's own use: draw strength from one's friends.
To make (tea) by steeping.
To cause to come by attracting; attract: afraid the casino will draw undesirable elements to the town.
To select or take in from a given group, type, or region: draw clients from all levels of society.
To withdraw (money).
To use (a check, for example) when paying.
To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To cause to flow forth: a pump drawing water; a blow that drew blood.
To suck or take in (air, for example); inhale.
To require (a specified depth of water) for floating: a boat drawing 18 inches.
To take or pull out: drew a gun from beneath the counter; drew out a fat wallet.
To extract or take for one's own use: draw strength from one's friends.
To make (tea) by steeping.
To cause to come by attracting; attract: afraid the casino will draw undesirable elements to the town.
To select or take in from a given group, type, or region: draw clients from all levels of society.
To withdraw (money).
To use (a check, for example) when paying.
To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To eviscerate; disembowel.
To cause to come by attracting; attract: afraid the casino will draw undesirable elements to the town.
To select or take in from a given group, type, or region: draw clients from all levels of society.
To withdraw (money).
To use (a check, for example) when paying.
To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To bring to a certain condition or action; lead: drawn to despair; drew them to resign.
To bring about deliberately; provoke: draw enemy fire; draw a penalty on an opponent.
To evoke as a response; elicit: a performance that drew jeers from the audience.
To earn; gain: deposits that draw interest at a rate of 5 percent.
To withdraw (money).
To use (a check, for example) when paying.
To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time: draw a pension.
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To take or receive by chance: draw lots.
Games
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To end or leave (a contest) tied or undecided.
Sports
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To pull back the string of (a bow).
To distort the shape of.
To stretch taut.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines: drew a map of the area; drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words: draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To formulate or devise from evidence or data at hand: draw a comparison.
To compose or write out in legal format: draw a deed.
v.
intr.
To proceed or move steadily: a ship drawing near the shore.
To attract customers or spectators: The new play is drawing well.
To pour forth liquid: The patient's veins don't draw easily.
To cause suppuration.
To take in a draft of air: The flue isn't drawing.
To steep in or as if in the manner of tea.
To pull out a weapon for use.
To use or call upon part of a fund or supply: drawing on an account; drew from the experience of fellow workers.
To contract or tighten: material that draws when it dries.
To conclude a contest without either side winning; tie: The chess players drew in 32 moves.
To make a likeness with lines on a surface; sketch.
n.
An act of drawing.
The result of drawing.
The arrangement of competitors in a tournament in which the match-ups are made at random.
A match-up or opponent in such a tournament.
Games A draw shot.
Sports A moderate, usually controlled hook in golf.
Something drawn, especially a lot, card, or cards drawn at random.
Sports & Games
The arrangement of competitors in a tournament in which the match-ups are made at random.
A match-up or opponent in such a tournament.
Games A draw shot.
Sports A moderate, usually controlled hook in golf.
An inhalation, especially through a pipe or other smoking implement.
One that attracts interest, customers, or spectators: a singer who is a popular draw.
The movable part of a drawbridge.
A special advantage; an edge: have the draw on one's enemies.
A contest ending without either side winning.
A small natural depression that water drains into; a shallow gully.
Football A play in which the quarterback drops back as if to pass and then hands off to a running back.
Sports A face-off.
Games A draw shot.
Sports A moderate, usually controlled hook in golf.
To prolong; protract.
To induce to speak freely: managed to draw the shy child out.
To compose or write in a set form; write out: draw up a contract; draw up a list.
To bring (troops, for example) into order.
To bring or come to a halt.
To bring (oneself) into an erect posture, often as an expression of dignity or indignation.
Chiefly Southern U.S. To shrink when washed. Used of clothes.
Phrasal Verb(s): draw awayTo move ahead of competitors. draw backTo retreat. draw downTo deplete by consuming or spending: drew down our food reserves. draw onTo approach: as evening draws on. draw out
To prolong; protract.
To induce to speak freely: managed to draw the shy child out.
draw up
To compose or write in a set form; write out: draw up a contract; draw up a list.
To bring (troops, for example) into order.
To bring or come to a halt.
To bring (oneself) into an erect posture, often as an expression of dignity or indignation.
Chiefly Southern U.S. To shrink when washed. Used of clothes.
Idiom(s):
draw a blankTo fail to find or remember something.
Idiom(s):
draw and quarter
To execute (a prisoner) by tying each limb to a horse and driving the horses in different directions.
To disembowel and dismember after hanging.
Informal To punish severely: The teenager was drawn and quartered for wrecking the family's only car.
Idiom(s):
draw strawsTo decide by a lottery with straws of unequal lengths.
Idiom(s):
draw the line
To decide firmly an arbitrary boundary between two things: "Where do you draw the line between your own decisions and those of your superiors?"(Robert Marion).
To decide firmly the limit of what one will tolerate or participate in: The officer committed fraud but drew the line at blackmail.
n. marijuana. (Drugs.) : He stood right on the corner, selling straw by the handful from a bucket at his feet—and nobody even called the cops. , This straw is not the best quality I've seen.
n. papers for rolling marijuana cigarettes. (Drugs.) : I can't manage the straw with one hand. How do these cowboys do it?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
straw
O.E. streaw "stems or stalks of certain cereals," lit. "that which is scattered or strewn," related to streowian (see strew), from P.Gmc. *strawam "that which is scattered" (cf. O.N. stra, Dan. straa, Swed. strå, O.Fris. stre, O.Du., O.H.G. stro, Ger. Stroh "straw"), from PIE *stere- "to spread" (see structure). The notion is of dried grain stalks strewn on a floor as carpeting or bedding. As a type of what is trifling or unimportant, attested from c.1290. Meaning "hollow tube through which a drink is sucked" is recorded from 1851. To draw straws as a means of deciding something is recorded from 1832. The last straw is from the proverb of the camel. Man of straw "imaginary opponent" is recorded from 1624. Straw poll is from 1932; earlier straw vote (1866). Straw hat first attested 1453. To clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws (1748) is what a drowning man proverbially would do.
Also, draw lots. Decide by a lottery using straws of different lengths. For example, Let's draw straws to see who will write the first draft. The lots version dates from the 1400s, whereas straws dates from the 1800s. Both have replaced the still older draw cuts. Another variant is draw the short straw, meaning to be the one so selected for a particular task.
[straw] 
