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- Dictionarystrike/strʌɪk/
verb
- 1. hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or a weapon or other implement: "he raised his hand, as if to strike me" Similar bangbeathitpoundinformal:bashwallop
- ▪ inflict (a blow): "the armies assembled but never struck a blow" Similar hitslapsmackbeatthrashspankthumpthwackpunchcuffcrackswatknockrappummelpoundbatterpeltweltassaultbox someone's earscanelashwhipclubcudgelinformal:cloutwallopbeltwhackbashclobberbopbiffsockdeckslugplugknock aboutknock aroundknock into the middle of next weeklay intodo overrough upzonkquiltliterary:smite
- ▪ accidentally hit (a part of one's body) against something: "she fell, striking her head against the side of the boat"
- ▪ come into forcible contact or collision with: "he was struck by a car in Whitepark Road" Similar crash intocollide withbe in collision withhitrun intoknock intobang intobump intosmash intoslam intocrack into/againstdash againstimpact
- ▪ (of a beam or ray of light or heat) fall on (an object or surface): "the light struck her ring, reflecting off the diamond"
- ▪ (in sporting contexts) hit or kick (a ball): "he struck the ball into the back of the net" Similar hitdrivepropelforceinformal:cloutwallopslamswipewellywelly
- ▪ produce (a musical note) by pressing or hitting a key.
- 2. (of a disaster, disease, or other unwelcome phenomenon) occur suddenly and have harmful or damaging effects on: "a major earthquake struck the island" Similar affectafflictattackhitcome uponsmite
- ▪ carry out an aggressive or violent action, typically without warning: "it was eight months before the murderer struck again" Similar attackmake an attack/assaultset upon someonefall on someoneassault someone
- ▪ cause (someone) to be in a specified state: "he was struck dumb"
- 3. (of a thought or idea) come into the mind of (someone) suddenly or unexpectedly: "a disturbing thought struck Melissa" Similar occur tocome todawn on onehitcome to mindspring to mindenter one's headpresent itselfcome into one's consciousness
- ▪ cause (someone) to have a particular impression: "it struck him that Marjorie was unusually silent" Similar seem toappear tolook togive someone the impression of beingimpressaffecthave an impact on
- ▪ find particularly interesting, noticeable, or impressive: "Lucy was struck by the ethereal beauty of the scene"
- ▪ be deeply fond of or infatuated with: informal "she was rather struck on Angus, wasn't she?"
- 4. (of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke: "the church clock struck twelve"
- ▪ (of time) be indicated by a clock sounding a chime or stroke: "eight o'clock struck"
- 5. ignite (a match) by rubbing it briskly against an abrasive surface: "the match went out and he struck another" Similar ignitelightOpposite extinguish
- ▪ produce (fire or a spark) as a result of friction: "his iron stick struck sparks from the pavement"
- ▪ bring (an electric arc) into being: "heat is generated by an electric arc struck between two graphitic electrodes"
- 6. (of employees) refuse to work as a form of organized protest, typically in an attempt to obtain a particular concession or concessions from their employer: "workers may strike over threatened job losses" Similar go on strikedown toolswalk outmutinyrebelrevolttake industrial actionwork to rule
- ▪ undertake strike action against (an employer): North American "photoengravers voted to strike the New York Times"
- 7. cancel, remove, or cross out with or as if with a pen: "I will strike his name from the list"
- 8. make (a coin or medal) by stamping metal: "they struck similar medals on behalf of the Normandy veterans"
- ▪ (in cinematography) make (another print) of a film: "the film was reissued on a new print struck from the old negative"
- 9. reach, achieve, or agree to (something involving agreement, balance, or compromise): "the team has struck a deal with a sports marketing agency" Similar achievereacharrive atfindattaineffectestablishagreeagree oncome to an agreement onsettle onsignendorseratifysanctioninformal:clinch
- ▪ (in financial contexts) reach (a figure) by balancing an account: "last year's loss was struck after allowing for depreciation of £67 million"
- ▪ form (a committee): Canadian "the government struck a committee to settle the issue"
- 10. discover (gold, minerals, or oil) by drilling or mining: "if they do strike oil, there will be another test well in a year's time" Similar discoverfindcome uponlight onchance onhappen onstumble on/acrossunearthuncoverturn up
- ▪ come to or reach: "several days out of the village, we struck the Gilgit Road"
- 11. move or proceed vigorously or purposefully: "she struck out into the lake with a practised crawl" Similar gomake one's wayset outheaddirect one's footstepsmove towards
- 12. take down (a tent or the tents of an encampment): "it took ages to strike camp" Similar take downpull downbring downtake apartOpposite pitch
- ▪ dismantle (theatrical scenery): "the minute we finish this evening, they'll start striking the set"
- ▪ lower or take down (a flag or sail), especially as a salute or to signify surrender: "the ship struck her German colours" Similar lowertake downlet downbring downOpposite hoist
- 13. insert (a cutting of a plant) in soil to take root: "best results are obtained from striking them in a propagator"
- ▪ (of a plant or cutting) develop roots: "small conifers will strike from cuttings"
- ▪ (of a young oyster) attach itself to a bed: "there is no better surface for the spat to strike on than another oyster"
- 14. secure a hook in the mouth of a fish by jerking or tightening the line after it has taken the bait or fly.
noun
- 1. a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer: "dockers voted for an all-out strike" Similar walkoutindustrial action
- ▪ an organized refusal to do something expected or required, with a similar aim: "a rent strike"
- 2. a sudden attack, typically a military one: "the threat of nuclear strikes" Similar attackair strikeair attackassaultbombingblitz
- ▪ (in sporting contexts) an act of hitting or kicking a ball: "his 32nd-minute strike helped the team to end a run of three defeats"
- ▪ (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with one's first ball.
- ▪ an act or instance of jerking or tightening the line to secure a fish that has already taken the bait or fly.
- 3. a discovery of gold, minerals, or oil by drilling or mining: "the Lena goldfields strike of 1912" Similar finddiscoveryunearthinguncovering
- 4. a batter's unsuccessful attempt to hit a pitched ball.
- ▪ a pitch that passes through the strike zone.
- ▪ something to one's discredit: North American "when they returned from Vietnam they had two strikes against them"
- 5. the horizontal or compass direction of a stratum, fault, or other geological feature: "the mine workings follow the strike of the Bonsor Vein"
- 6. short for fly strike
Word Origin Old Englishstrīcan ‘go, flow’ and ‘rub lightly’, of West Germanic origin; related to German streichen ‘to stroke’, also to stroke. The sense ‘deliver a blow’ dates from Middle English.
Derivatives
- 1. strikable adjective
Scrabble Points: 10
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1T
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