streue

Streue is a German noun derived from the verb streuen, meaning to scatter or sprinkle small amounts of material over a surface. It denotes the act of distributing loose particles in portions and is most commonly found in compound terms and technical language. In agriculture and horticulture, streuen describes spreading seeds, fertilizer, lime, or other granular substances on soil or seedbeds, typically with spreader equipment to achieve even coverage. In road maintenance and winter service, Streugut refers to materials such as sand, grit, or salt that are spread on icy or wet surfaces to improve traction; the devices used for this are called Streuer or Streuwagen. In cooking and baking, streuen means to sprinkle sugar, cocoa, herbs, or spices over foods.

Etymology: streuen comes from Old High German and Proto-Germanic roots meaning to scatter; the noun Streue is formed from the verb. Related terms include Streuung (scattering) and Streubraite (width of distribution). The concept also appears in other domains, such as industry, where powder deposition or coating processes may be described as streuen in a general sense, though more specific terminology is common.