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Astroturf

//ˈæstɹoʊˌtɝf// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a group created by a larger organisation (especially a corporation or political party), but presenting itself as a grassroots organisation.

    "Can we assure readers that astroturf letters will not appear as letters in The Star? Unfortunately, no. At least a dozen Web sites from which astroturf can be generated have been identified. Many more exist."

Noun
  1. 1
    A synthetic material used in sports grounds as a durable substitute for natural grass. uncountable

    "And then there's AstroTurf. Invented in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and patented by Monsanto in 1965, AstroTurf is the world's first synthetic turf used as a sports playing surface, coming to fame—and its name—when it was put into the Houston Astrodome in 1966."

  2. 2
    Alternative spelling of AstroTurf. alt-of, alternative
  3. 3
    Alternative spelling of AstroTurf. alt-of, alternative
  4. 4
    Alternative form of Astroturf. US, alt-of, alternative, uncountable
  5. 5
    A campaign designed to appear like a genuine popular (or grassroots) movement, that does not have such popular support. US

    "An Astroturf campaign is a fake grassroots movement: it purports to be a spontaneous uprising of concerned citizens, but in reality it is founded and funded by elite interests. Some Astroturf campaigns have no grassroots component at all. Others catalyse and direct real mobilisations."

Verb
  1. 1
    Alternative spelling of Astroturf. alt-of, alternative
  2. 2
    To cover with an artificial grass-like material.

    "But what was there left to Astroturf? The sitting-room? Hugh's bald patch?"

  3. 3
    To fabricate an impression of political support for an agenda. lowercase, usually

    "We have been Astroturfed by some of the biggest players in the business. As you will read in the coming pages, a reasonable-sounding group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices spent us$40 million during the last presidential[…]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From astro- + turf, from its namesake trademark, in turn a reference to the Astrodome stadium in Houston, the first major sports venue to install artificial turf in 1966. The venue was named by its developer Roy Hofheinz, presumably a reference to the emerging identity of Houston as Space City. Originally marketed as ChemGrass.

Etymology 2

See AstroTurf and astroturfing.

Etymology 3

See AstroTurf and astroturfing.

Etymology 4

See AstroTurf and astroturfing.

See also for "astroturf"

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