v. (past part. Strewn or strewed) 1 scatter or spread about over a surface.

- (usu. Foll. By with) spread (a surface) with scattered things. [old english: related to *straw]

n. (pl. Striae) slight ridge or furrow. [latin]

cartoon n. = *comic strip.

- club n. Club at which striptease is performed.

- light n. Tubular fluorescent lamp.

- —v. (-pp-) 1 (often foll. By of) remove the clothes or covering from.

- (often foll. By off) undress oneself.

- (often foll. By of) deprive (a person) of property or titles.

- leave bare.

- (often foll. By down) remove the accessory fittings of or take apart (a machine etc.).

- damage the thread of (a screw) or the teeth of (a gearwheel).

- remove (paint) or remove paint from (a surface) with solvent.

- (often foll. By from) pull (a covering etc.) Off (stripped the masks from their faces). —n. - act of stripping, esp. In striptease.

- colloq. Distinctive outfit worn by a sports team. [old english]

- n. Long narrow piece. tear a person off a strip colloq. Rebuke a person. [low german strippe strap]

—n. Device, esp. A strip of leather, for sharpening razors. —v. (-pp-) sharpen on a strop. [low german or dutch]

—v. (-mm-) 1 (often foll. By on; also absol.) Play on (a guitar, piano, etc.), esp. Carelessly or unskilfully.

- play (a tune etc.) In this way. —n. Sound or spell of strumming. [imitative: cf. *thrum1]

—n. - bar in a framework, designed to resist compression.

- strutting gait. —v. (-tt-) 1 walk stiffly and pompously.

- brace with struts. [old english]

past and past part. Of *stick2.

—n. (pl. -ies) 1 acquisition of knowledge, esp. From books.

- (in pl.) Pursuit of academic knowledge.

- private room used for reading, writing, etc.

- piece of work, esp. A drawing, done for practice or as an experiment.

- portrayal in literature etc. Of behaviour or character etc.

- musical composition designed to develop a player's skill.

- thing worth observing (his face was a study).

- thing that is or deserves to be investigated. —v. (-ies, -ied) 1 make a study of; investigate (a subject) (study law).

- (often foll. By for) apply oneself to study.

- scrutinize closely (a visible object).

- learn (one's role etc.).

- take pains to achieve (a result) or pay regard to (a subject or principle etc.).

- (as studied adj.) Deliberate, affected (studied politeness). [latin studium]

—n. - material; fabric.

- substance or things not needing to be specified (lot of stuff on the news).

- particular knowledge or activity (know one's stuff).

- woollen fabric.

- trash, nonsense.

- (prec. By the) a colloq. Supply, esp. Of drink or drugs. B slang money. —v. - pack (a receptacle) tightly (stuff a cushion with feathers).

- (foll. By in, into) force or cram (a thing).

- fill out the skin of (an animal etc.) With material to restore the original shape.

- fill (food, esp. Poultry) with a mixture, esp. Before cooking.

- (also refl.) Fill with food; eat greedily.

- push, esp. Hastily or clumsily.

- (usu. In passive; foll. By up) block up (the nose etc.).

—n. - part of a cut or fallen tree still in the ground.

- similar part (e.g. Of a branch or limb) cut off or worn down.

- cricket each of the three uprights of a wicket.

- (in pl.) Joc. Legs. —v. - (of a question etc.) Be too hard for; baffle.

- (as stumped adj.) At a loss, baffled.

- cricket put (a batsman) out by touching the stumps with the ball while he is out of the crease.

- walk stiffly or noisily.

- (also absol.) Us traverse (a district) making political speeches. stump up colloq. Pay or produce (the money required). [low german or dutch]