strew

present singular third person strews · participle present strewing · past strewed · participle past strewn · participle past strewed · alternative dialectal strow · alternative dialectal straw

1. datedexcept strewnTo distribute objects or pieces of something over an area, especially in a random manner.

   to strew sand over a floor

   5 more examples

   The files had been strewn all over the floor.

   Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew.

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]

   And strewed his mangled limbs about the field.

   1697, Virgil, “Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   […] I ſee Th’ Inſulting Tyrant prancing o’er the Field Strow’d with Rome’s Citizens, and drench’d in Slaughter, His Horſe’s Hoofs wet with Patrician Blood.

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, pages 1-2

   On a principal table a desk was open and many papers strewn about.

   1880, [Benjamin Disraeli], Endymion […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC

2. archaicTo cover, or lie upon, by having been scattered.

   Leaves strewed the ground.

   2 more examples

   The snow which does the top of Pindus strew.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, Prothalamion

   Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain?

   1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC

3. archaictransitiveTo spread abroad; to disseminate.

   She may strew dangerous conjectures.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

4. To populate with at random points; to cause to appear randomly distributed throughout.

   error-strewn