¦ verb (past threw; past participle 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: on-the-spot portraits at ?25 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 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 thrawan 'to twist, turn', of W. Gmc origin.