strew

[ stroo ]

/ stru /

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verb (used with object), strewed, strewn [stroon] /strun/ or strewed, strew·ing.

to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle: to strew seed in a garden bed.

to cover or overspread (a surface, place, etc.) with something scattered or sprinkled: to strew a floor with sawdust.

to be scattered or sprinkled over (a surface): Sawdust strewed the floor.

to spread widely; disseminate: to strew rumors among the troops.

RELATED WORDS

sprinkle, scatter, toss, cover

Nearby words

Origin of strew

before 1000; Middle English strewen, Old English strewian; cognate with German streuen, Old Norse strā, Gothic straujan; akin to Latin sternere to spread (see stratum)

SYNONYMS FOR strew

1. broadcast. See sprinkle.

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ANTONYMS FOR strew

1. gather, reap.

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Related formsstrew·er, nounun·der·strew, verb (used with object), un·der·strewed, un·der·strewn or un·der·strewed, un·der·strew·ing.un·strewed, adjectiveun·strewn, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for strew

If you strew a few Carvi comfits on the top, it will not be amiss.
The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened|Kenelm Digby
Let us strew ashes on our heads, for that Nebuchadnezzar is slain.
Jeremiah|Stefan Zweig
Cannot you strew such criticisms through the sequel to Lavengro?
The Life of George Borrow|Clement K. Shorter
Take the largest broad mushrooms, break them into an earthen pan, strew salt over, and stir them occasionally for three days.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,|Mary Eaton

She now approached, with a basket of flowers in her hand, which she said she would daily strew over the grave of good Lychorida.
Tales from Shakespeare|Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb

British Dictionary definitions for strew

strew

/ (struː) /

verb strews, strewing, strewed, strewn or strewed

to spread or scatter or be spread or scattered, as over a surface or area

Derived Formsstrewer, noun

Word Origin for strew

Old English streowian; related to Old Norse strā, Old High German streuwen, Latin struere to spread

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for strew

strew

Old English streowian, from Proto-Germanic *straujanan (cf. Old Saxon stroian, Old Norse stra, Danish strø, Swedish strö, Middle Dutch strowen, Dutch strooien, Old High German strouwen, German streuen, Gothic straujan "to sprinkle, strew"), from PIE root *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure (n.)).