What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Arrow vs Straw - What's the difference?

arrow | straw |

As a noun arrow

is a projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

As a verb arrow

is to move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

As a contraction arrow

is (obsolete).

As a proper noun straw is

.

arrow

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) earh, (m), (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.
  • *
  • Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.
  • A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g. \to).
  • (lb) A directed edge.
  • A dart.
  • Synonyms
    * (projectile) streal * (in graph theory) arc, directed edge
    Derived terms
    * arrowsmith * arrow-finger * arrowhead * arrow of time / time's arrow * arrowroot * arrowy * straight as an arrow
    See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow)
  • To let fly swiftly and directly
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012
  • , date=April 9 , author=Mandeep Sanghera , title=Tottenham 1 - 2 Norwich , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Jermain Defoe dinked in an equaliser and Gareth Bale hit the crossbar for the hosts before Elliott Bennett arrowed in Norwich's winner. }}

    Etymology 2

    Representing pronunciation.

    Contraction

    (en-cont)
  • (obsolete)
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, page 153:
  • though he hath lived here this many years, I don't believe there is arrow a servant in the house ever saw the colour of his money.

    straw

    English

    Noun

  • (countable) A dried stalk of a cereal plant.
  • (uncountable) Such dried stalks considered collectively.
  • (countable) A drinking straw.
  • a pale, yellowish beige colour, like that of a dried straw.
  • (figurative) Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing.
  • *XIX c. , recorded by Francis James Child,
  • *:‘For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw ,
  • *:Nor all thine arrows to boot;
  • *:If I get a knop upon thy bare scop,
  • *:Thou canst as well shite as shoote.’
  • *1857 , Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers :
  • *:He also decided, which was more to his purpose, that Eleanor did not care a straw for him, and that very probably she did care a straw for his rival.
  • *1881 , :
  • *:To be deeply interested in the accidents of our existence, to enjoy keenly the mixed texture of human experience, rather leads a man to disregard precautions, and risk his neck against a straw .
  • Derived terms

    * * strawberry

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Made of straw.
  • straw hat
  • Of a pale, yellowish beige colour, like that of a dried straw.
  • Derived terms

    * cheese straw * drinking straw * draw the short straw * grasp at straws * jackstraw * the last straw * the final straw * make bricks without straw * man of straw * pine straw * silly straw * straw boss * straw buyer * straw hat * straw in the wind * straw man * straw mushroom * straw poll * the straw that broke the camel's back * straw that stirs the drink * straw vote * straw wine * strawboard * straw-coloured * strawflower * strawworm * windlestraw

    See also

    * balibuntal * buntal * corn dolly * etiolated * fescue * huarache * leghorn * paillasse * paillette * pallet * parabuntal * rick * sacaton * skep * stipule * stubble * zori *

    Anagrams

    * *