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- DictionaryStrike/strīk/
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 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 on 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) so as to score a run, point, or goal: "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: "an 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"
- 4. (of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke: "the church clock struck twelve"
- 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 an organized protest 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: "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 dollars"
- ▪ 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 practiced crawl" Similar gomake one's wayset outheaddirect one's footstepsmove toward
- 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 colors" 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
- ▪ a refusal to do something expected or required, typically by a body of people, 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 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 pitch that is counted against the batter, in particular one that the batter swings at and misses, or that passes through the strike zone without the batter swinging, or that the batter hits foul (unless two strikes have already been called). A batter accumulating three strikes is out.
- ▪ a pitch that passes through the strike zone and is not hit.
- ▪ 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.
- 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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