English Explanatory Dictionary

strew

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To distribute objects or pieces of something over an area, especially in a random manner.
  2. To cover, or lie upon, by having been scattered.
  3. To spread abroad; to disseminate.
  4. To populate with at random points; to cause to appear randomly distributed throughout.

Pronunciation

/stɹuː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-strew.wav /stɹu/

Word forms

strew strews strewing strewed strewn strow straw

Etymology

From Middle English strewen, strawen, streowen, from Old English strewian, strēawian, strēowian (“to strew, scatter”), from Proto-West Germanic *strauwjan, from Proto-Germanic *strawjaną (“to strew”), from Proto-Indo-European *strew- (“to spread, scatter”). Cognate with Scots strow, straw (“to strew”), West Frisian streauwe (“to strew”), Dutch strooien (“to strew, scatter, sprinkle”), German streuen (“to strew, scatter”), Swedish strö (“to strew”), Icelandic strá (“to strew”), Norwegian Nynorsk strå (“to strew”).

Synonyms

scatter sprinkle

Related words

strain streusel

Derived words

bestrew instrew overstrew strewable strewage strewer strewment strewments strewnfield unstrewed
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