chaff - What does it mean?
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Definition of 'chaff'English
Noun
( -)
The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
- To separate out the chaff , early cultures tossed baskets of grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter chaff.
* Dryden
- So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
By extension, any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
- There are plenty of good books on the subject, but take care to separate the wheat from the chaff .
* Shakespeare
- the chaff and ruin of the times
Loose material dropped from aircraft specifically to interfere with radar detection.
Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
* Wyatt
- By adding chaff' to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way ' chaff is very useful.
Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
Derived terms
* separate the wheat from the chaff
See also
* bran
Verb
( en-verb)
To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz.
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