What is "drinking straw"

n. A long plastic or paper tube through which a drink is drunk by suction.

n. a thin paper or plastic tube used to such liquids into the mouth [syn: straw]

A drinking straw is a short tube for transferring a beverage from its container to the mouth of the drinker. A thin tube of plastic (such as polypropylene and polystyrene) or other material, straight or with an angle-adjustable bellows segment, it is used by being held with one end in the mouth and another end in the drink. Muscular action reduces air pressure in the mouth and above the liquid in the straw, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the beverage through the straw.