strew

[ stroo ]

verb (used with object)

, strewed, strewn [stroon] or strewed, strew·ing.

1. to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle:

   to strew seed in a garden bed.

   Synonyms: broadcast

   Antonyms: reap, gather

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

   to strew a floor with sawdust.

3. to be scattered or sprinkled over (a surface):

   Sawdust strewed the floor.

4. to spread widely; disseminate:

   to strew rumors among the troops.

strew

/ struː /

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstrewer, noun

Other Words From

• strew·er noun
• un·der·strew verb (used with object) understrewed understrewn or understrewed understrewing

Word History and Origins

Origin of strew¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of strew¹

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

Synonym Study

See sprinkle.

Example Sentences

We strew waste across the Earth from our industrialized societies.

From Los Angeles Times

A large section of the building facade is missing along its roofline, with rubble strew across the road below.

From BBC

The only sign that the damaged building is not abandoned are the bunches of freshly cut, fragrant grass that worshipers traditionally strew in places of worship.

From Washington Post

Disturbed by statistics on Italian emigration that swelled to 84,000 in 1884 alone, Scalabrini wrote that the mass emigration and separation of families would “help strew white the lands of America with their bones.”

From Seattle Times

The interior of the Subaru looked like a college dorm room at the end of finals — food wrappers, half-packed bags and road strew cluttering every quadrant.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• scatter
• sprinkle