straggly

/'strægliɳ/ Cách viết khác : (straggly) /'strægli/

Thân thiện

The gardener trimmed the straggly branches from the bush.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Growing or spreading in a sparse, irregular, or untidy manner: Describes something that grows, spreads, or hangs out in a way that is not dense, neat, or orderly. It often implies a lack of control or organization.
   • Spreading out loosely in different directions: Describes something that extends or is arranged in a scattered, sprawling fashion.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The garden was overgrown with straggly ivy. (The ivy was growing in a sparse and irregular way.)
  • After the long hike, her hair was straggly and full of twigs. (Her hair was messy, untidy, and hanging loosely.)
  • They followed a path through straggly bushes. (The bushes were growing in a sparse and disorganized manner.)

Advanced Usage

• "Straggly" is often used to describe vegetation (plants, vines, hair) that appears thin, uneven, or poorly maintained. It carries a slightly negative connotation of neglect or wildness.
• It can describe handwriting that sprawls irregularly across a page.
• It can metaphorically describe groups or lines of things (e.g., people, buildings) that are spread out in a disorderly fashion.

Variants and Related Words

• Straggle (verb): To move, grow, or spread out in a scattered or irregular way, often lagging behind.
  • The children began to straggle behind the group.
• Straggler (noun): A person or thing that straggles, especially one that falls behind others.
  • The teacher waited for the stragglers to catch up.

Synonyms

• Sparse: Thinly scattered or distributed.
• Scraggly: Irregular, thin, and messy (often used interchangeably with for hair or beards).
• Sprawling: Spreading out over a large area in an irregular, ungainly way.
• Disheveled: Untidy, disordered (typically used for appearance, especially hair).

Related Phrases

• Straggly end/edge: Refers to the irregular, uneven part of something.
  • She trimmed the straggly ends of her hair.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. growing or spreading sparsely or irregularly
   • straggly ivy
2. spreading out in different directions
   • sprawling handwriting
   • straggling branches
   • straggly hair

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sprawling
• straggling
• rambling