WHAT IS MEANING OF STRIKE
STRIKE
strike (verb)
strike (noun)
strike force (noun)
strike zone (noun)
air strike (noun)
first strike (noun)
hunger strike (noun)
lightning strike (noun)
wildcat strike (noun)
chord (noun)
gold (noun)
home (adverb)
hot (adjective)
iron (noun)
lightning (noun)
nerve (noun)
pay dirt (noun)
rich (adjective)
[+ object]
a : to hit (someone or something) in a forceful way
The ship struck an iceberg.
The car struck the tree.
The bullet struck him in the leg.
[+] more examples
b : to cause (something) to hit something in a forceful way
I struck [=banged, bumped] my knee against the leg of the table.
She struck the cymbals together.
c : to hit (someone or something) with your hand, a weapon, etc.
The killer struck him with a blunt object.
She accidentally struck another player in the face.
2
[no object] : to attack someone or something suddenly
The snake was about to strike.
Police say that the killer may strike again.
— often + at
The snake struck at the mouse.
He struck at her with a knife.
— often used figuratively
He hurt her feelings by striking at [=attacking, criticizing] her personal beliefs.
The proposed law strikes at the foundations of our democracy.
3
not used in progressive tenses : to affect (someone or something) suddenly in a bad way : to cause damage, harm, illness, etc., to (someone or something)
[+ object]
The flu strikes millions of people each year. [=millions of people get sick with the flu each year]
A hurricane struck the island.
The city has been struck by a powerful earthquake.
— often used as (be) stricken
He was stricken with a high fever.
[no object]
The hurricane is expected to strike tomorrow.
When disaster strikes, will you be prepared?
— often used figuratively
The home team struck [=scored] first on the opening drive.
4
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to cause (someone) to be in a certain condition suddenly — usually used as (be) struck
They were struck speechless with surprise.
He was struck deaf/blind [=he became deaf/blind] at an early age.
I was struck dumb [=dumbstruck] by the news.
5
[+ object]
a : to cause someone to feel (a strong emotion) suddenly — often + in or into
Their war cries struck terror in (the hearts of) their enemies.
Her words struck fear into the hearts of her listeners.
b : to affect (someone) with a strong emotion
He was struck with horror at the sight. = The sight struck him with horror.
6
[+ object] : to cause (something) to happen or exist : to do or achieve (something)
He needs to strike a better balance between his work life and his family life. [=he needs to spend less time at work and more time with his family]
They struck a blow for freedom and against tyranny. [=they did something that helped freedom and opposed tyranny]
Fate has struck a heavy blow against us. = Fate has struck us a heavy blow.
7
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to be thought of by (someone) suddenly : to occur to (someone)
It suddenly struck me [=I realized suddenly] that I would never see her again.
The answer just struck me.
It strikes me [=I realize] that there is a larger issue at stake.
8
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to cause (someone) to think about someone or something in a particular way
What really struck me was their enthusiasm. [=I especially noticed their enthusiasm]
It strikes me [=it surprises me] that so few of them were willing to help.
— often + as
Her comment struck me as odd. [=her comment seemed odd to me]
She strikes us as a very qualified candidate. [=we think she is a very qualified candidate]
9
[no object] of a group of workers : to stop work in order to force an employer to agree to demands : to refuse to work until your employer does what you want
The teachers are threatening to strike. [=go on strike]
striking workers
— often + for
The workers are striking for an increase in pay.
10
of a clock : to make the time known by making a sound
[no object]
The clock struck as they entered the room.
[+ object]
The clock struck one.
11
[+ object] : to cause (a match) to start burning by rubbing it against a surface
She struck a match and lit the candle.
12
[+ object] : to make (an agreement)
The two parties have finally struck a bargain/deal.
13
[+ object] : to remove (something) from (something)
She struck the song from the album at the last minute.
He struck [=deleted] the sentence from the paragraph.
The clause has been stricken from the contract.
14
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to find or discover (something) especially by digging
They are hoping to strike oil/gold.
— see also strike gold (below)
15
[+ object] : to place yourself in (a particular position, posture, etc.)
She struck [=assumed, took on] a dramatic pose.
He struck a defensive attitude.
16
[+ object] : to play (a note, chord, etc.) on a musical instrument by using your fingers on keys or strings
Fans cheered when he struck the song’s opening chords.
— often used figuratively
She struck the right note/tone with her speech. [=she said things in a way that appealed to her audience]
17
always followed by an adverb or preposition, [no object] : to begin to walk or go in a particular direction — usually + off or out
He struck off through the woods.
The men struck out for/toward their campsite when they saw the storm clouds moving in.
— see also strike out 4 (below)
18
[+ object] : to make (a coin, medal, etc.) by pressing an image into a piece of metal
The coins were struck in 1789.
be struck by informal
: to be very impressed by or pleased with (something or someone)
Visitors are always struck by the beauty of the landscape.
lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
— see 1lightning
strike a chord
— see 2chord
strike a nerve
— see nerve
strike back [phrasal verb]
: to try to hurt someone who has hurt you or treated you badly
When he called her lazy, she immediately struck back by calling him fat.
— often + at
He angrily struck back at his critics.
strike down [phrasal verb]
1
strike (someone) down
a : to make (someone) unable to work, act, or function in the usual way — usually used as (be) struck down
She was struck down by an injury at the height of her athletic career.
b : to cause (someone) to die suddenly — usually used as (be) struck down
He was struck down by a heart attack at age 55.
2
strike (something) down or strike down (something) chiefly US, law : to say officially that (something) is no longer legally valid
The board struck down the appointment.
The Supreme Court struck down the law.
strike gold
: to have great success with something
The studio struck gold with their latest film.
— see also 1strike 14 (above)
strike home
— see 2home
strike it rich informal
: to become rich suddenly
Her family struck it rich when they won the lottery.
strike off [phrasal verb]
1
strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to draw a line through (a name or item on a list)
The teacher struck off [=crossed out] the names as he called them out.
2
strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to remove (something) by hitting it with a tool in a forceful way
He struck off the top of the coconut with a machete.
3
strike off (someone) or strike (someone) off British : to remove the name of (someone, such as a doctor or lawyer) from an official register — usually used as (be) struck off
The doctor was struck off for unethical practices. [=the doctor is no longer allowed to practice]
— see also 1strike 17 (above)
strike on/upon [phrasal verb]
1
strike on/upon (something) not used in progressive tenses : to find or discover (something) especially suddenly
He struck on an idea for his novel.
They struck upon a salt mine.
2
be struck on British, informal : to like or be impressed by (someone or something) very much
He was quite struck on her.
She seems to be very struck on herself. [=stuck on herself]
strike out [phrasal verb]
1
baseball
a strike (someone) out or strike out (someone) of a pitcher : to cause (a batter) to be out by pitching three strikes
The pitcher struck him out with a curve.
The pitcher struck out the first two batters.
b of a batter : to make an out by getting three strikes
The first two batters struck out.
— see also strikeout
2
strike (something) out or strike out (something) : to remove (something) from a document : delete
The editor struck out the last paragraph.
3
US, informal : to be unsuccessful : fail
“Did you get her phone number?” “No, I struck out.”
4
: to begin a course of action
She struck out on her own after graduation.
— see also 1strike 17 (above)
5
: to try to hit someone or something suddenly
He struck out wildly with his arms.
— often + at
He struck out wildly at the police officers.
6
: to make a sudden and angry attack against someone — often + at
Both candidates struck out at their critics.
strike pay dirt
— see pay dirt
strike (someone) dead
: to kill (someone) in a quick and unexpected way
A bolt of lightning struck him dead.
strike up [phrasal verb]
1
strike up (something)
a : to begin to play (a piece of music)
The orchestra struck up a waltz.
b : to cause (an orchestra, a band, etc.) to begin playing
The conductor struck up the band.
2
strike up (something) also strike (something) up : to begin (something)
I struck up a conversation with him at the party.
The two boys struck up a friendship.
strike while the iron is hot
: to do something immediately while you still have a good chance to do it
We may not have a chance like this again. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
— see also striking distance
2 strike /?stra?k/ noun
plural strikes
Learner’s definition of STRIKE
1
: a period of time when workers stop work in order to force an employer to agree to their demands
[count]
a teachers’ strike
a strike by airline pilots
[noncount]
The workers are on strike.
Workers are threatening to go (out) on strike. = (Brit) Workers are threatening to come out on strike.
Workers threatened to take strike action.
— see also hunger strike, lightning strike
2
[count] : a military attack
The allies have launched several strikes.
an air strike [=an attack by aircraft]
— see also first strike, surgical strike
3
[count] : the act of hitting something with force
The forest fire was caused by a lightning strike. [=was caused when something on the ground was hit/struck by lightning]
4
[count]
a baseball : a pitch that passes through a certain area over home plate without being hit and that counts against the batter
The first pitch was a ball but the next two pitches were strikes.
That’s strike two. One more strike and he’s out.
— see also strike zone
b US : a perfectly thrown ball or pass
The quarterback threw a strike to the receiver.
5
[count] chiefly US : something that makes someone or something less likely to be accepted, approved, successful, etc.
Her poor attendance was a strike against her. [=her poor attendance counted against her]
He has a criminal record, so that’s one strike against him.
I want the job, but I’m young and I don’t have much experience, so I feel like I already have two strikes against me.
6
[count] bowling : the achievement of knocking down all 10 pins with the first ball
She made/bowled a strike.
— compare 3spare 2
7
[count] : a discovery of something valuable (such as oil) — usually singular
an oil strike
