# throw

Pronunciation: say "THROH" US /θɹoʊ/, UK /θɹəʊ/

## Verb

1. To propel an object rapidly through the air with force, by hand or with an apparatus, including passing a ball in a sport such as American football.
   - Simple: To send something through the air with your hand or a device, such as passing a ball in a game.
   - _Can you throw me the car keys before you head out?_
   - _The kids spent the afternoon throwing a tennis ball for the dog in the park._
2. To move something to another position or condition; to displace it.
   - Simple: To move something into a new position or state.
   - _He threw the engine into gear and sped off._
   - _A single command can throw the system into maintenance mode._
3. To eject someone or something, or cause it to fall off.
   - Simple: To make someone or something fall off.
   - _The bucking bronco threw the cowboy in the first second._
   - _The crash was violent enough to throw both riders from their bikes._
4. To project or send something forth toward a person or place, such as a look, a remark, or light.
   - Simple: To send something out toward someone or something, like a look, words, or light.
   - _The fire threw flickering shadows on the cave walls._
   - _During the long meeting he would throw a nervous glance at the clock every few minutes._
6. To organize and host an event, especially a party.
   - Simple: To plan and hold an event, such as a party.
   - _The company threw a lavish gala to celebrate its anniversary._
   - _They wanted to throw a reception that no one would forget._
7. To confuse or mislead someone, catching them off guard. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To confuse someone or make them unsure.
   - _A trick question like that can throw even experienced candidates._
   - _The detective's calm demeanor threw the suspect off balance._
8. To put something on in a hurry, or to spread it out carelessly.
   - Simple: To put something on quickly, or to spread it without much care.
   - _He threw on an old sweater and rushed out the door._
   - _Throw a tarp over the woodpile before the rain starts._
10. To display sudden emotion, especially anger, in an outburst.
   - Simple: To suddenly show strong feelings, especially anger.
   - _He threw a fit when the referee reversed the call._
   - _Children sometimes throw tantrums when they are overtired._
11. To put someone into prison or confinement.
   - Simple: To put someone in prison or jail.
   - _The regime threw dissidents into prison without trial._
   - _Authorities can throw repeat offenders behind bars for decades._
12. To deliver a blow, such as a punch, to an opponent.
   - Simple: To deliver a punch or blow to someone.
   - _The boxer threw a powerful right hook in the final round._
   - _Learn to throw a clean punch without dropping your guard._
14. To intentionally lose a contest one is playing, rather than competing to win it.
   - Simple: To lose a game on purpose instead of trying to win.
   - _Investigators found that the boxer had thrown the fight for a cash payout._
   - _Teams sometimes throw a meaningless late-season game to secure a better draft pick._
15. To send or commit someone or something hastily or desperately, such as troops into a battle or money into a venture.
   - Simple: To send someone or something quickly, often in a rush or out of worry.
   - _The general threw fresh troops into the battle in a desperate bid to hold the line._
   - _Investors throw cash at any startup that promises quick returns._
16. To lift or unbalance an opponent and bring them down to the ground, especially into a position behind oneself.
   - Simple: To lift or push your opponent off balance and bring them down to the ground.
   - _The wrestler threw his rival cleanly over his shoulder._
   - _In judo, a skilled fighter can throw a larger opponent using leverage alone._
17. To roll a die or set of dice, or to get a particular number by rolling them.
   - Simple: To roll dice, or to get a certain number when you roll them.
   - _Players take turns to throw the dice and advance around the board._
   - _She threw the dice and groaned at the low numbers._
21. In programming, to send an error to a handling mechanism in order to interrupt normal processing.
   - Simple: In programming, to report an error so the program stops and handles it.
   - _If the connection fails, the method will throw an error._
   - _The parser threw an exception on the malformed line._
22. To make a pot by shaping clay as it spins on a potter's wheel.
   - Simple: To shape clay into a pot on a spinning wheel.
   - _The potter threw a series of matching mugs for the set._
   - _Students learn to throw simple cylinders before attempting bowls._
23. To alter one's voice so that it seems to come from another person or a different location.
   - Simple: To make your voice seem to come from somewhere else or from another person.
   - _A skilled performer can throw her voice so convincingly that the dummy seems alive._
   - _He threw his voice toward the closet, and everyone turned to look._
25. Of an animal, to bear young, as a ewe does lambs or a mare a foal.
   - Simple: Of an animal, to give birth to its young.
   - _The ewe threw two healthy lambs overnight._
   - _Breeders hope the prize mare will throw a strong foal this season._
13. To play a match in a particular way, said of a player whose role is to throw something, such as a baseball pitcher.
   - Simple: To play a game in a certain way when your job is throwing, like a baseball pitcher.
   - _Few pitchers ever throw a no-hitter, and most never come close._
   - _The rookie quarterback threw a nearly flawless game in his first start._

## Noun

5. An act of throwing something through the air, the path it follows, or the strength and accuracy with which someone throws.
   - Simple: An act of throwing something, the way it flies, or how well someone throws.
   - _The quarterback's throw traveled forty yards downfield._
   - _A clumsy throw sent the dart into the wall instead of the board._
9. The distance covered by an object that has been thrown.
   - Simple: How far a thrown object goes.
   - _The javelin athlete's throw exceeded eighty meters._
   - _From the outfield fence, home plate is a very long throw for most high school players._
18. A grappling move in which one lifts or unbalances an opponent and brings them down to the ground.
   - Simple: A wrestling or judo move where you lift your opponent off balance and bring them to the ground.
   - _The referee awarded full points for a clean throw._
   - _Her signature throw flipped opponents over her hip and onto their backs._
19. A piece of fabric draped over a bed, sofa, or other furnishing for warmth or decoration.
   - Simple: A soft piece of cloth you put over a bed or couch for warmth or decoration.
   - _A knitted throw added a splash of color to the leather couch._
   - _She tucked her feet under the wool throw while reading._
20. A single instance, occurrence, or chance at something. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A single try, time, or chance at something.
   - _Custom prints run about fifty dollars a throw._
   - _Private lessons with that coach run about a hundred dollars a throw, so most students book only a few._
24. A distance traveled in general, or the amount by which something is displaced.
   - Simple: A distance that something moves or travels.
   - _This projector has a short throw, so it can sit close to the screen and still fill it._
   - _Engineers calculated the throw of the piston within the cylinder._

## Other meanings

- (verb) To discard a card in a trick-taking card game.
- (verb) In cricket, to bowl with an illegal action in which the bowling arm straightens at the elbow partway through the delivery.
- (verb) To wind several strands of silk or other fiber together into one thread, turning them opposite to their own twist, or more broadly to prepare raw silk for weaving.
- (verb) To pick which pitcher will play, or to use one in a set role, for example to start a game or to come in later as relief.
- (verb) To build or put a bridge in place across a gap or river, often quickly.
- (verb) To make something twist or rotate.
- (noun) An offset part of a crankshaft that links to a connecting rod, converting motion between rotation and back-and-forth movement.
- (noun) A lathe turned by hand rather than by power, particularly the small kind favored by clock and watch makers.
- (noun) A single point in time when something happens.
- (noun) A short stretch of time.
- (noun) An old way of writing throe, a sharp spasm of pain.
- (verb) An old way of writing throe as a verb, meaning to suffer or cause great pain.

## Origin

From Middle English throwen, from Old English þrāwan ("to turn, twist"), going back through Proto-Germanic *þrēaną to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to rub or twist." It is related to Dutch draaien and German drehen ("to turn"). Over time it took over "warp" as the word for hurling, while "warp" took over its old sense of twisting.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/throw (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).