throw

I UK [θrəʊ] / US [θroʊ] verb
Word forms "throw":
present tense I/you/we/they throw he/she/it throws present participle throwing past tense threw UK [θruː] / US [θru] past participle thrown UK [θrəʊn] / US [θroʊn]
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1) [intransitive/transitive] to use your hand to send an object through the air

I'll throw the ball and you try to catch it.

throw something at someone/something:

Some kids were throwing stones at the windows.

throw something to someone:

Each child throws a ball to their partner.

throw someone something:

Can you throw me that rope?

2) [transitive] to put something somewhere in a quick careless way

She hastily threw her books into the cupboard.

Harry had a red scarf thrown casually around his neck.

3) [transitive] to suddenly move your body or a part of your body into a particular position

Suddenly throwing back his head, he started laughing.

She threw herself into his arms.

a) to use force to move someone or something

The door was thrown open.

He threw his opponent to the ground.

b) [usually passive] if a horse throws you, you fall off when it makes a sudden violent movement

She was thrown from her horse when it jumped sideways.

4) [transitive] if someone is thrown into prison or a similar place, they are forced to go there

throw someone into jail/prison:

Many protesters have been thrown into jail without trial.

5) [transitive] to suddenly aim a look, smile etc in a particular direction

Marco threw an angry glance at her.

6)

a) [transitive] to put someone or something into a bad state

Exams always threw her into a panic.

throw something into confusion/chaos/disarray/turmoil:

A single computer problem can throw the whole office into chaos.

b) if something throws you, it makes you surprised or confused because you did not expect it

The news has completely thrown me.

throw someone off balance:

The sudden question threw her off balance.

7) [transitive] if you throw something such as questions, ideas, comments etc at someone, you suddenly ask them or mention them

Reporters were throwing personal questions at her.

They stood in the street throwing insults at each other.

8) [transitive] if you throw a switch, handle etc, you move it up or down, for example in order to start or stop a machine

He threw a switch and the lights came on.

9) [transitive] informal to deliberately lose a game or competition

They were offered a bribe to throw the match.

10) [transitive] if something throws light or shadows somewhere, it makes light or shadows appear there

•

throw your weight about/around — informal to use your authority to tell other people what to do in a rude and unpleasant way

The boss came in, yelling and generally throwing his weight around.

throw your weight behind someone/something — to use your power to support a plan or a project

The minister has thrown his weight behind the campaign.

- throw something back in someone's face

- throw the book at someone

- throw good money after bad

- throw money at something

- throw money down the drain

- throw a party

- throw a punch

- throw your voice

- throw yourself at someone

- throw yourself into something

Phrasal verbs:

- throw aside

- throw away

- throw back

- throw back on

- throw in

- throw off

- throw off at

- throw on

- throw out

- throw over

- throw together

- throw up

See:

baby I, caution I, hat, light I, lot II, towel I

II UK [θrəʊ] / US [θroʊ] noun [countable]
Word forms "throw":
singular throw plural throws
*

1) the action of throwing something such as a ball

a long throw from the boundary

2) the action of throwing your opponent to the ground in a sport such as wrestling

3) a large piece of cloth that you put over a chair, bed etc to make it look nice