- strike */*/*/
- I UK [straɪk] / US
verb
Word forms "strike":
present tense I/you/we/they strike he/she/it strikes present participle striking past tense struck UK [strʌk] / US past participle struck1) [intransitive/transitive] formal to hit against, or to crash into, someone or somethingOne of the bullets struck her forearm.
strike someone/something on the something:The boat struck the bottom.
be struck by something:The ball struck her hard on the left shoulder.
She's in hospital with head injuries after being struck by a car.
a) [transitive] formal to hurt a part of your body by accidentally knocking it against an objectstrike on:Gordon fell from his bike and struck his head on the ground.
b) [intransitive/transitive] if lightning strikes something such as a tree or a building, it hits it and damages or destroys itCan lightning ever strike twice in the same place?
Judy's house was struck by lightning during the storm.
2)a) [transitive] formal to hit someone or something with your hand, a tool, or a weaponstrike someone/something on the something:strike something with something:He fled empty-handed after striking a security guard on the head.
strike (someone) a blow (on something):"Idiot!" cried Simmons, striking his forehead with the palm of his hand.
She had been struck a blow on the back of the head.
b) [transitive] formal to hit or kick something such as a ball with your hand, foot, or a piece of sports equipmentShe's really striking the ball well and has her confidence back.
He struck a superb shot into the back of the net.
3)a) [intransitive] to make a sudden violent or illegal attack on someone or somethingPolice say they fear the man could strike again.
strike against:The thief struck sometime between 8.30 am and 6 pm.
We will use these air bases to strike against the northern territories.
b) [intransitive/transitive] to make a successful attack in a competition, especially by scoring a goal or pointAnderson struck twice in three minutes in the first half.
Henry struck the winning goal seconds before the end of the match.
4) [intransitive] to refuse to work for a period of time as a protest about your pay or conditions of workstriking factory workers
strike for:The right to strike was then established in the constitution.
strike over:Pilots were striking for a 6% salary increase.
Car workers were threatening to strike over the job losses.
5) [intransitive/transitive] if something unpleasant or dangerous strikes, or if it strikes someone or something, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly and causes harm or damage to themAccidents can strike at any time.
tragedy strikes (someone/something):Three earthquakes struck Peru on April 5th and 6th.
disaster strikes (someone/something):That same year, tragedy struck the family again.
Disaster struck within minutes of take-off.
6) [transitive, never progressive] if a thought or idea strikes you, it enters your mind suddenly or unexpectedlyIt was then that the thought struck her.
He stopped speaking, struck by a sudden thought.
it strikes someone that:The first thing that struck me about Alex was his amazing self-confidence.
it strikes someone how:It struck her that this was not perhaps the best time to bring up the subject.
It struck us how ill he was looking these days.
7) [transitive] to press a key or to hit a musical instrument with a finger or a hand in order to produce a note or a series of notes8)a) [transitive] to rub a match with a short quick movement against a hard surface, producing a flameHe struck a match, shading it with his hand.
b) [intransitive] if a match strikes, it produces a flame as a result of being rubbed with a short quick movement against a hard surfaceThe matches won't strike if they're damp.
9) [intransitive/transitive] if a clock strikes or strikes a particular time, it makes a sound like a bell a particular number of times to show what time it isstrike the hour (= make a sound at one o'clock, two o'clock etc):The town hall clock struck midnight.
One of the clocks struck the hour.
10) [transitive] to remove words from a document, for example by drawing a line through themstrike something from something:strike something from the record:Their names should be struck from the list of candidates.
The court reporter will strike that remark from the record.
11) [transitive] if light strikes something, it shines on itHer hair looks red when light strikes it.
12) [transitive] to make something such as a deal or an agreement by which both sides get an advantage or a benefitstrike a deal/bargain:These questions must be answered before a deal can be struck.
13) [transitive] to find something such as gold or oil by digging or drilling14) [transitive, usually passive] to make a coin or medal by cutting it out of a piece of metalThe first English gold coin was struck in 1255.
15) [transitive] to lower and remove a structure such as a tent or sailstrike camp (= remove all the tents in it):strike a set (= remove the background and furniture used in a play, film, or television programme):The order was given to strike camp at dawn.
They were waiting for the director's order to strike the set.
•be struck by/with something
— if you are struck by/with something, it seems unusual, interesting, or impressive to youThe first time I saw her I was struck by her beauty.
strike a balance (between something and something)
— to accept neither of two extreme positions or things but find a solution that is reasonable and fairA balance must be struck between meeting housing needs and preserving the environment.
strike the/your eye
— to be noticedThe picture immediately strikes the eye as you enter the room.
strike fear/terror/a chill into someone/someone's heart
— to produce feelings of fear in someonea subject guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of parents
He was capable of striking terror into the enemy.
Her words struck a chill into me.
strike it rich/lucky
— informal to suddenly become rich/luckyAfter years as a struggling businessman he struck it lucky.
strike a pose/an attitude
— to put your body into a particular position in order to create a particular effectHe threw out his arms and struck a final, triumphant pose.
within striking distance (of something)
— close enough to be reached, attacked, or achieved; close enough to reach, attack, or achieve somethingWith the new train service, Northampton's now within striking distance.
Phrasal verbs:Armoured divisions will soon be within striking distance of the capital.
See:home II
II UK [straɪk] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "strike":
singular strike plural strikes1) a period of time during which people refuse to work, as a protest about pay or conditions of workstrike by:strike over:A strike by transport workers was launched on August 12th.
be (out) on strike:a 15-day strike over pay and poor safety conditions
call a strike (= ask people to start it):Workers have been out on strike since Friday.
a miners'/teachers' strike:The two main unions had called the strike.
a train/tube/dock strike:schools closed by a teachers' strike
strike in protest at:A dock strike has crippled the port.
The strikes are in protest at the planned introduction of performance-related pay.
See:2) a military attack, especially one in which planes drop bombs on an areastrike against:strike on:the danger of an imminent military strike against the United States
launch a strike (on/against someone/something):Cluster bombs were used in the strike on the airfield.
Bush warned that America would launch strikes against them if the war spread.
See:3) British a hit or kick of a ball, especially one with which you score a goal or a pointStevens got the first goal with a brilliant strike in the fourth minute.
a) a situation in bowling in which you succeed in knocking down all the pins (= bottle shaped objects) with one ballb) a failure to hit the ball in baseball4) a discovery of something such as gold or oil by digging or drilling•informal one/two/three qualities, facts, or details that are considered a disadvantageone strike/two strikes/three strikes against someone/something
— mainly American
English dictionary. 2014.