HOW TO PRONOUNCE
chaff
/t͡ʃæf/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does chaff mean?
noun
- The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
- Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
- (figuratively) Any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
More meanings (5)
noun
- Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
- Loose material, e.g. small strips of aluminum foil dropped from aircraft, intended to interfere with radar detection.
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 cut up (straw or hay) for use as cattle feed.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/t͡ʃæf/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
We must read laboriously and expend a disproportionate amount of time and pains in winnowing the chaff from the wheat.
They are in high glee at their departure for Stamboul, and favor me with considerable good-natured chaff as I wheel past.
More book examples (3)
But he determined to chaff Fix, when he had the chance, with mysterious allusions, which, however, need not betray his real suspicions.
The women then pour it upon a robe and begin to shake it so that the chaff will be separated by the wind.
To the proprietor this dusty chaff is a nuisance gladly given to anyone that will neatly sweep it up and truck it away.