- to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist: to throw a ball.
- to hurl or project (a missile), as a gun does.
- to project or cast (light, a shadow, etc.).
- to project (the voice).
- to make it appear that (one's voice) is coming from a place different from its source, as in ventriloquism.
- to direct or send forth (words, a glance, etc.).
- to put or cause to go or come into some place, position, condition, etc., as if by hurling: to throw someone into prison;to throw a bridge across a river;to throw troops into action.
- to put on, off, or away hastily: to throw a shawl over one's shoulders.
- Machinery.
- to move (a lever or the like) in order to activate, turn on, disconnect, etc., an apparatus or mechanism: to throw the switch.
- to connect, engage, disconnect, or disengage by such a procedure: to throw the current.
- to shape on a potter's wheel: to throw a vase.
- to bring to bear or invest: Throw all your energy into your work. The FBI threw every available agent into the case.
- to deliver (a blow or punch): He threw a hard left jab to his opponent's chin.
- to cause to fall to the ground, especially to hurl to the ground, as an opponent in wrestling.
- to play (a card).
- to lose (a game, race, or other contest) intentionally, as for a bribe.
- to cast (dice).
- to make (a cast) at dice: She threw two sixes.
- (of an animal, as a horse) to cause (someone) to fall off; unseat: The horse threw his rider twice.
- to organize and host: They threw a lavish party celebrating his 80th birthday.
- (of domestic animals) to bring forth (young).
- to twist (filaments) without attenuation in the production of yarn or thread.
- to overcome with astonishment or confusion; amaze, disconcert, or confuse: It was her falsetto voice on top of it all that really threw me.
- to turn on a lathe.
- to cast, fling, or hurl a missile or the like.
- an act or instance of throwing or casting; cast; fling: For your first time playing catch, I'd have to say that was a great throw!
- the distance to which anything is or may be thrown: a stone's throw.
- a venture or chance: It was his last throw.
- Machinery.
- the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of the crankpins, equal to one half of the piston stroke.
- the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of an eccentric.
- the movement of a reciprocating part in one direction.
- (in a movie theater) the distance between the projector and the screen.
- (in an auditorium or the like) the distance between a loudspeaker and the audience.
- the length of a beam of light: a spotlight with a throw of 500 feet.
- Theater.
- the distance to which a spotlight can be projected.
- the area illuminated by a spotlight.
- a scarf, boa, shawl, or the like.
- a light blanket, as for use when reclining on a sofa.
- a cast of dice.
- the number thrown with a pair of dice.
- the act, method, or an instance of throwing an opponent.
- the amount of vertical displacement produced by a fault.
- throw away,
- to dispose of; discard.
- to employ wastefully; squander.
- to fail to use; miss (a chance, opportunity, etc.): He threw away a college education and a professional career.
- (of a performer) to speak or tell (lines, a joke, etc.) casually or indifferently.
- throw back,
- to retard the development or advancement of: His illness threw him back a year at school.
- to force into dependence upon or necessary use of.
- to return to; hark back.
- to revert to a type found in one's ancestry; manifest atavism: Her red hair and blue eyes throw back to her great-grandmother.
- throw down,
- to fight or to challenge someone to a fight: You wanna throw down with me, punk?
- to give a share of the cost; contribute (money): Are you going to throw down for this pizza, or what?
- to produce or execute (something) successfully; put down: The skiers threw down a few good runs before the snow turned to slush.
- to cast down; cause to drop: Throw down your weapons and surrender!
- throw in, Informal.
- to add as a bonus or gratuity: They throw in breakfast with the room.
- to bring into (a discussion, plan, etc.) as an addition; interject: The president threw in an amusing anecdote to relieve the tension.
- to abandon (a hand).
- throw off,
- to free oneself of; cast aside: to throw off the wet poncho;to throw off the yoke of slavery.
- to escape from or delay, as a pursuer.
- to give off; discharge.
- to perform or produce with ease: The entertainer threw off a few songs and jokes to begin the show.
- to confuse; fluster: Thrown off by jeers, she forgot her lines.
- to criticize or ridicule (usually followed by at).
- throw out,
- to cast away; remove; discard.
- to bring up for consideration; propose: The committee threw out a few suggestions.
- to put out of mind; reject: We can throw out that scheme.
- to cause to be out by throwing the ball to a fielder, especially an infielder, in time to prevent a batter or runner from reaching base safely: The shortstop backhanded the ball and threw the batter out at first.
- to eject from a place, especially forcibly: He started making a disturbance so the bartenders threw him out.
- to expel, as from membership in a club.
- to forsake; abandon: She threw over her first husband for another man.
- throw together,
- to make in a hurried and haphazard manner.
- to cause to associate: Many nationalities have been thrown together in the American melting pot.
- throw up,
- to give up; relinquish.
- to build hastily.
- to vomit.
- to point out, as an error; criticize.
- (of a hawk) to fly suddenly upward.
- each: He ordered four suits at $300 a throw.
- cold (def. 31).
- gauntlet1 (def. 5).
- sponge (def. 21).
- towel (def. 3).
- hat (def. 8).
- to strive to attract the interest or attention of, especially in order to win the love or admiration of: Don't expect me to throw myself at you.
- to engage in with energy or enthusiasm: She threw herself into learning the new routines.
- to commit oneself to another's mercy, generosity, support, etc.; trust in: The members of his wife's family have all thrown themselves on him.
- bathwater (def. 2).
- bull2 (def. 2).
- wolf (def. 13).
- bus1 (def. 11).
- to project or cast (something) through the air, esp with a rapid motion of the arm and wrist
- to put or move suddenly, carelessly, or violently
- to bring to or cause to be in a specified state or condition, esp suddenly or unexpectedly
- to direct or cast (a shadow, light, etc)
- to project (the voice) so as to make it appear to come from other than its source
- to give or hold (a party)
- to cause to fall or be upset; dislodge
- to tip (dice) out onto a flat surface
- to obtain (a specified number) in this way
- to shape (clay) on a potter's wheel
- to move (a switch or lever) to engage or disengage a mechanism
- to be subjected to (a fit)
- to turn (wood, etc) on a lathe
- to baffle or astonish; confuse
- to deliver (a punch)
- to hurl (an opponent) to the ground
- to lose (a contest, fight, etc) deliberately, esp in boxing
- to play (a card)
- to discard (a card)
- (of a female animal, esp a cow) to give birth to (young)
- to twist or spin (filaments) into thread
- to be unenthusiastic about or discourage something
- to strive actively to attract the attention or affection of
- to involve oneself enthusiastically in
- to rely entirely upon
- the act or an instance of throwing
- the distance or extent over which anything may be thrown
- a chance, venture, or try
- an act or result of throwing dice
- the eccentricity of a cam
- the radial distance between the central axis of a crankshaft and the axis of a crankpin forming part of the shaft
- a decorative light blanket or cover, as thrown over a chair
- a sheet of fabric used for draping over an easel or unfinished painting, etc, to keep the dust off
- the vertical displacement of rock strata at a fault
- the deflection of a measuring instrument as a result of a sudden fluctuation