chaff
Definitions from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Part or all of this page has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
Old English ceaf; akin to Dutch kaf, German Kaff.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
chaff (uncountable)
- The inedible parts of a plant whose seeds are eaten as grain.
- To separate out the chaff, early cultures tossed baskets of grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter chaff.
- By extension, any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
- There are plenty of good websites on the subject, but take care to separate the wheat from the chaff.
- Loose material dropped from aircraft specifically to interfere with radar detection.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
inedible parts of grain plant
