- throw
-
I. verb
(threw; thrown; throwing)
Etymology: Middle English thrawen, throwen to cause to twist, throw, from Old English thrāwan to cause to twist or turn; akin to Old High German drāen to turn, Latin terere to rub, Greek tribein to rub, tetrainein to bore, pierce
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. to propel through the air by a forward motion of the hand and arm <throw a baseball> b. to propel through the air in any manner <a rifle that can throw a bullet a mile> c. pitch 6b <threw a no-hitter> 2. a. to cause to fall <threw his opponent> b. to cause to fall off ; unseat <the horse threw its rider> c. to get the better of ; overcome <the problem didn't throw her> 3. a. to fling (oneself) precipitately <threw herself down on the sofa> b. to drive or impel violently ; dash <the ship was thrown on a reef> 4. a. (1) to put in a particular position or condition <threw her arms around him> <thrown into chaos> <threw him into prison> (2) to put on or off hastily or carelessly <threw on a coat> b. to bring to bear ; exert <threw all his efforts into the boy's defense> <throw their weight behind the proposal> c. build, construct <threw a pontoon bridge over the river> 5. to form or shape on a potter's wheel 6. to deliver (a blow) in or as if in boxing 7. to twist two or more filaments of into a thread or yarn 8. a. to make a cast of (dice or a specified number on dice) b. roll 1a <throw a bowling ball> 9. to give up ; abandon 10. to send forth ; project <the setting sun threw long shadows>; also shed 3c <throw some light on the matter> 11. to make (oneself) dependent ; commit (oneself) for help, support, or protection <threw himself on the mercy of the court> 12. deposit 2b <the wine throws sediment> 13. to perform (as a stunt) successfully <throwing tricks on a skateboard> 14. to indulge in ; give way to <threw a temper tantrum> 15. a. to bring forth <throws a good crop> b. to give birth to <threw large litters> 16. to lose intentionally <throw a game> 17. a. to move (a lever) so as to connect or disconnect parts of a clutch or switch; also to make or break (a connection) with a lever b. to put (an automobile) in a different gear especially quickly or suddenly <he threw the car into reverse> 18. to give by way of entertainment <throw a party> intransitive verb cast, hurl • thrower noun Synonyms: throw, cast, toss, fling, hurl, pitch, sling mean to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force. throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm <can throw a fastball and a curve>. cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering <cast it to the winds>. toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion <tossed the coat on the bed>. fling stresses a violent throwing <flung the ring back in his face>. hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight <hurled himself at the intruder>. pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target <pitch horseshoes>. sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim <slung the bag over his shoulder>. II. noun Date: 1530 1. a. an act of throwing, hurling, or flinging b. (1) an act of throwing dice (2) the number thrown with a cast of dice c. a method of throwing an opponent in wrestling or judo 2. the distance a missile may be thrown or light rays may be projected 3. an undertaking involving chance or danger ; risk, venture 4. the amount of vertical displacement produced by a geological fault 5. a. the extreme movement given to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam, crank, or eccentric ; stroke b. the length of the radius of a crank or the virtual crank radius of an eccentric or cam 6. a. a light coverlet (as for a bed) b. a woman's scarf or light wrap
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
