throw

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For the verb: "to throw"

Simple Past: threw
Past Participle: thrown

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
throw/θrəʊ/
verb (past threw; past part. thrown)
  • 1 propel with force through the air by a rapid movement of the arm and hand.

    ■ send (one's opponent) to the ground in wrestling, judo, etc.

    ■ (of a horse) unseat (its rider).

    Cricket bowl (the ball) with an illegitimate bent arm action.

  • 2 move or put into place quickly, hurriedly, or roughly.
  • 3 send suddenly into a particular position or condition: he threw all her emotions into turmoil.

    ■ disconcert; confuse.

  • 4 project, direct, or cast (light, an expression, etc.) in a particular direction.

    ■ project (one's voice) so that it appears to come from somewhere else, as in ventriloquism.

  • 5 form (ceramic ware) on a potter's wheel.

    ■ turn (wood) on a lathe.

    ■ twist (silk or other material) into yarn.

  • 6 have (a fit or tantrum).
  • 7 informal give or hold (a party).
  • 8 informal lose (a race or contest) intentionally, especially in return for a bribe.
  • 9 (of an animal) give birth to.
noun
  • 1 an act of throwing.
  • 2 a light cover for furniture.
  • 3 Geology the extent of vertical displacement in a fault.
  • 4 a machine or device by or on which an object is turned while being shaped.
  • 5 the action or motion of a slide valve or of a crank, eccentric wheel, or cam.

    ■ the extent of such motion.

  • 6 (a throw) informal a single turn, round, or item: drinks are £1 a throw.
– phrases
be thrown back on be forced to rely on (something) because there is no alternative.
throw good money after bad incur further loss in a hopeless attempt to recoup a previous loss.
throw one's hand in withdraw from a card game because one has a poor hand.

■ withdraw; give up.

throw in the towel (or sponge) (of boxers or their seconds) throw a towel (or sponge) into the ring as a token of defeat.

■ admit defeat.

throw up one's hands raise both hands in the air as an indication of one's exasperation.
– phrasal verbs
throw something away
  • 1 discard something as useless or unwanted.

    ■ waste or fail to make use of an opportunity or advantage.

  • 2 (of an actor) deliver a line with deliberate underemphasis.
throw something down informal (of a DJ, rapper, etc.) play or perform a piece of music.
throw something in
  • 1 include something extra with something that is being sold or offered.
  • 2 make a remark casually as an interjection in a conversation.
throw oneself into start to do (something) with enthusiasm and vigour.
throw off (of hounds or a hunt) begin hunting.
throw something off
  • 1 rid oneself of something.
  • 2 write or utter something in an offhand manner.
throw something open make something generally accessible.
throw someone out
  • 1 expel someone unceremoniously.
  • 2 Cricket & Baseball put out an opponent by throwing the ball to the wicket or a base.
throw something out
  • 1 discard something as unwanted.
  • 2 (of a court, legislature, or other body) dismiss or reject something.
  • 3 cause numbers or calculations to become inaccurate.
throw someone over end a relationship with a lover.
throw people together bring people into contact, especially by chance.
throw something together make something hastily or without careful planning.
throw up informal vomit.
throw something up
  • 1 abandon something.
  • 2 produce something and bring it to notice.
– derivatives
throwable adjective,
thrower noun.
– origin OE thrāwan ‘to twist, turn’, of W. Gmc origin.
'throw' also found in these Oxford entries:

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