Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Strew?

\Strew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Strewed}; p. p. {strewn}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Strewing}.] [OE. strewen, strawen, AS. strewian, stre['o]wian; akin to Ofries. strewa, OS. strewian, D. strooijen, G. streuen, OHG. strewen, Icel. str[=a], Sw. str["o], Dan. str["o]e, Goth. straujan, L. sternere, stratum, Gr. ?, ?, Skr. st?. [root]166. Cf. {Stratum}, {Straw}, {Street}.] 1. To scatter; to spread by scattering; to cast or to throw loosely apart; -- used of solids, separated or separable into parts or particles; as, to strew seed in beds; to strew sand on or over a floor; to strew flowers over a grave. And strewed his mangled limbs about the field. --Dryden. On a principal table a desk was open and many papers [were] strewn about. --Beaconsfield. 2. To cover more or less thickly by scattering something over or upon; to cover, or lie upon, by having been scattered; as, they strewed the ground with leaves; leaves strewed the ground. The snow which does the top of Pindus strew. --Spenser. Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain? --Pope. 3. To spread abroad; to disseminate. She may strew dangerous conjectures. --Shak.