Chaff

Quick meaning: Chaff is a noun meaning The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.

Meaning

The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.

More Meanings

1. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
2. (figurative) Any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
3. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
4. (military) Loose material, e.g. small strips of aluminum foil dropped from aircraft, intended to interfere with radar detection.
5. (intransitive) To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
6. (transitive) To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language.
7. (transitive) To cut up (straw or hay) for use as cattle feed.

Example Sentences

the chaff and ruin of the times

So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.

It was the chaff of the College at the time, but I could not help it.

To separate out the chaff, early cultures tossed baskets of grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter chaff.

Word Forms

• chaffs
• chaffing
• chaffed

Synonyms for chaff

Depending on context, synonyms include window, quiz, banter, stalk, husk, jolly.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include husk, shuck, straw, kid, stubble, stalk.

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