Strawlike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a texture or appearance similar to thin, dry stalks of grain or grass; resembling the lightweight, fibrous quality of straw; characterized by a brittle, elongated, and pale form
2. Exhibiting qualities akin to dried plant stems, often slender and fragile; resembling the structure or color of straw; marked by a straw-like thinness and stiffness
3. Possessing attributes similar to slender, dry stalks used in thatching or bedding; conveying a visual or tactile likeness to straw; thin, stiff, and straw-resembling in texture or shape

Etymology: "Strawlike" is a plain compound: the noun "straw" with the suffix "-like," which attaches to nouns to mean "resembling" or "having the qualities of." The suffix comes from Old English "-lic," a descendant of the same root that gave "body" its older sense of form and shape, so the word means, literally, "having the form of straw." Used on its own, "straw" has a long history in English, but "strawlike" is a transparent formation with no special story behind it. Its meaning follows the suffix: something strawlike is thin, dry, and stiff, or it looks or feels like the stalks used for thatch and bedding.

Synonyms: strawy, dry, brittle, pale, thin

Antonyms: thick, lush, moist, vibrant