Practice Strew with Flashcards, Spelling and Quizzes

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Definition of strew

To scatter or spread something in a random or disorderly manner.
"They strew flower petals along the aisle for the bride to walk on."

Detailed Meaning of Strew

It involves deliberately dispersing objects, substances, or items across a surface or an area without any specific arrangement or pattern. When one strews something, they intentionally distribute it in a loose and unorganized fashion, allowing it to fall or be placed haphazardly. This action can apply to a wide range of materials, such as leaves strewed across a path, papers strewed on a desk, or flowers strewed along a wedding aisle. The act of strewing often suggests a sense of casualness or negligence, as if the objects or substances are left in a scattered state without much concern for tidiness or order. The verb "strew" captures the idea of creating a random and unplanned arrangement by scattering items or substances without purposeful placement or alignment.

Example Sentences for Strew

1. The children love to strew seeds for the birds in the garden.
2. The wind began to strew leaves across the yard.
3. She decided to strew confetti around the room for the party.
4. He carefully began to strew herbs into the simmering pot.
5. The waves continually strew shells and seaweed on the beach.
6. I watched as the artist began to strew paint onto the canvas.

Origin and Etymology of Strew

The verb 'strew' has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled as 'streowian.' This Old English term meant 'to scatter' or 'to spread,' often in a random or disorderly manner. The word evolved from the Proto-Germanic root 'streunōną' and shares a common ancestry with words in other Germanic languages. Over time, 'strew' continued to be used in English to describe the act of dispersing objects or substances, such as seeds, flowers, or other materials, in a haphazard or unorganized way. It remains a valuable word for conveying the idea of spreading something in a casual or non-uniform fashion, and its etymology reflects the longstanding human practice of dispersing and scattering various elements in the natural world.

Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding

Find the correct meaning of the verb strew:

collect

scatter

gather

assemble

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Correct!

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More Usage Examples of Strew

1. When she sings, it’s like her voice is meant to strew joy among the audience.
2. The gardener had to strew fertilizer over the flower beds.
3. The villagers strew rice at the newlyweds as a symbol of prosperity.
4. The baker likes to strew powdered sugar on top of the pastries.
5. Let’s strew some wildflower seeds in that empty plot of land.
6. The workers strew salt on the icy roads to make them safer.
7. The decorator will strew fairy lights around the garden for the event.
8. The storm last night was so strong it managed to strew debris everywhere.
9. The kind old lady would strew breadcrumbs for the pigeons every morning.
10. The activists decided to strew informational pamphlets throughout the community.
11. During the harvest festival, people strew grains to thank nature for its abundance.
12. The librarian is known to strew bookmarks in all the returned books as a kind gesture.
13. I plan to strew some lavender sachets in my drawers to keep my clothes smelling fresh.
14. She would strew flower petals along the wedding aisle.
15. The wind would strew leaves all over the backyard.
16. He'd strew his clothes around the room, creating a mess.
17. Kids often strew toys across the living room floor.
18. The baker would strew powdered sugar on freshly baked pastries.
19. Construction workers strew nails and tools around the site.
20. During the parade, they'd strew candies to the cheering crowd.
21. The storm would strew debris across the neighborhood.
22. It's not polite to strew litter in public places.
23. She'd strew seeds in the garden to grow beautiful flowers.
24. The artist would strew paint on the canvas, creating a masterpiece.