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STRIKE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected form: struck
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A conspicuous success
Example:
the party went with a bang
Synonyms:
bang; hit; smash; smasher; strike
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
success (an attainment that is successful)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strike"):
blockbuster; megahit; smash hit (an unusually successful hit with widespread popularity and huge sales (especially a movie or play or recording or novel))
sleeper (an unexpected hit)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(baseball) a pitch that the batter swings at and misses, or that the batter hits into foul territory, or that the batter does not swing at but the umpire judges to be in the area over home plate and between the batter's knees and shoulders
Example:
this pitcher throws more strikes than balls
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
delivery; pitch ((baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter)
Derivation:
strike (make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A score in tenpins: knocking down all ten with the first ball
Example:
he finished with three strikes in the tenth frame
Synonyms:
strike; ten-strike
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
score (the act of scoring in a game or sport)
Sense 4
Meaning:
An attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective
Example:
the strike was scheduled to begin at dawn
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
attack; onrush; onset; onslaught ((military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strike"):
first strike (the initial use of nuclear weapons to attack a country that also has nuclear weapons; considered feasible only when the attacker can destroy the other country's ability to retaliate)
surgical strike (an attack (usually without prior warning) intended to deal only with a specific target)
preventive attack; preventive strike (a strike that is carried out in order to deter expected aggression by hostile forces)
Derivation:
strike (make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target)
Sense 5
Meaning:
A group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
Example:
the strike lasted more than a month before it was settled
Synonyms:
strike; work stoppage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
job action (a temporary action by workers to protest management decision or to make demands)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strike"):
sit-down; sit-down strike (a strike in which workers refuse to leave the workplace until a settlement is reached)
sympathetic strike; sympathy strike (a strike in support of other workers who are on strike; a strike not resulting from direct grievances against the workers' employer)
walkout (a strike in which the workers walk out)
wildcat strike (a strike undertaken by workers without approval from the officials of their union)
Derivation:
strike (stop work in order to press demands)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A gentle blow
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("strike" is a kind of...):
blow; bump (an impact (as from a collision))
Derivation:
strike (hit against; come into sudden contact with)
strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they strike ... he / she / it strikes
Past simple: struck
Past participle: stricken /struck
-ing form: striking
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to form (an electric arc) between electrodes of an arc lamp
Example:
strike an arc
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
form; shape (give shape or form to)
Verb group:
strike (produce by ignition or a blow)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Arrive at after reckoning, deliberating, and weighing
Example:
strike a bargain
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
figure out; lick; puzzle out; solve; work; work out (find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Indicate (a certain time) by striking
Example:
Just when I entered, the clock struck
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
read; record; register; show (indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 4
Meaning:
Make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target
Example:
in the fifth inning, the Giants struck, sending three runners home to win the game 5 to 2
Synonyms:
hit; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
assail; attack (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with)
Verb group:
hit; pip; shoot (hit with a missile from a weapon)
hit; strike (affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike"):
retaliate; strike back (make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil)
stroke (strike a ball with a smooth blow)
chop (hit sharply)
slice (hit a ball so that it causes a backspin)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Derivation:
strike ((baseball) a pitch that the batter swings at and misses, or that the batter hits into foul territory, or that the batter does not swing at but the umpire judges to be in the area over home plate and between the batter's knees and shoulders)
strike (an attack that is intended to seize or inflict damage on or destroy an objective)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely
Example:
The earthquake struck at midnight
Synonyms:
hit; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
affect; bear on; bear upon; impact; touch; touch on (have an effect upon)
Verb group:
hit; strike (make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 6
Meaning:
Produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments
Example:
strike 'z' on the keyboard
Synonyms:
hit; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 7
Meaning:
Pierce with force
Example:
The icy wind struck through our coats
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
penetrate; perforate (pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s something
Sense 8
Meaning:
Hit against; come into sudden contact with
Example:
He struck the table with his elbow
Synonyms:
collide with; hit; impinge on; run into; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)
Verb group:
strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike"):
glance (hit at an angle)
clash; collide (crash together with violent impact)
bump into; butt against; jar against; knock against; run into (collide violently with an obstacle)
bump; knock (knock against with force or violence)
bottom out (hit the ground)
bottom (strike the ground, as with a ship's bottom)
thud (strike with a dull sound)
spat (strike with a sound like that of falling rain)
connect (land on or hit solidly)
broadside (collide with the broad side of)
rear-end (collide with the rear end of)
bang; spang (leap, jerk, bang)
ping (hit with a pinging noise)
stub (strike (one's toe) accidentally against an object)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The car strikes the tree
Derivation:
striking (the physical coming together of two or more things)
striker (someone who hits)
striker (the part of a mechanical device that strikes something)
strike (a gentle blow)
Sense 9
Meaning:
Smooth with a strickle
Example:
strickle the grain in the measure
Synonyms:
strickle; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
even; even out; flush; level (make level or straight)
"Strike" entails doing...:
smooth; smoothen (make smooth or smoother, as if by rubbing)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 10
Meaning:
Deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
Example:
The boxer struck the attacker dead
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)
Verb group:
collide with; hit; impinge on; run into; strike (hit against; come into sudden contact with)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike"):
lash; whip (strike as if by whipping)
beat (hit repeatedly)
beat (strike (a part of one's own body) repeatedly, as in great emotion or in accompaniment to music)
sclaff (strike (the ground) in making a sclaff)
clout (strike hard, especially with the fist)
knap; rap (strike sharply)
chop (strike sharply, as in some sports)
slap (hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand)
sclaff (strike (a golf ball) such that the ground is scraped first)
batter; buffet; knock about (strike against forcefully)
jab (strike or punch with quick and short blows)
bunt; butt (to strike, thrust or shove against)
knock; strike hard (deliver a sharp blow or push)
cut down; down; knock down; pull down; push down (cause to come or go down)
spur (strike with a spur)
beak; peck; pick (hit lightly with a picking motion)
tap; tip (strike lightly)
hew (strike with an axe; cut down, strike)
sideswipe (strike from the side)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The fighter managed to strike his opponent
Also:
strike down (cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow)
Derivation:
strike (a gentle blow)
striker (the part of a mechanical device that strikes something)
striker (someone who hits)
striking (the act of contacting one thing with another)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
Example:
scratch that remark
Synonyms:
excise; expunge; scratch; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
cancel; delete (remove or make invisible)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 12
Meaning:
Form by stamping, punching, or printing
Example:
strike a medal
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
create from raw material; create from raw stuff (make from scratch)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 13
Meaning:
Disassemble a temporary structure, such as a tent or a theatrical set
Example:
after the show, we'll have to strike the set and pack up
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
break apart; break up; disassemble; dismantle; take apart (take apart into its constituent pieces)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 14
Meaning:
Produce by ignition or a blow
Example:
strike a match
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Verb group:
strike (cause to form (an electric arc) between electrodes of an arc lamp)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 15
Meaning:
Have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
Example:
her comments struck a sour note
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Cause:
experience; feel (undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind)
Verb group:
actuate; incite; motivate; move; prompt; propel (give an incentive for action)
come to; hit; strike (cause to experience suddenly)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike"):
alienate (make withdrawn or isolated or emotionally dissociated)
sadden (make unhappy)
move (arouse sympathy or compassion in)
stir; touch (affect emotionally)
disturb; trouble; upset (move deeply)
sweep away; sweep off (overwhelm emotionally)
impress (impress positively)
pierce (move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply)
cloud (make gloomy or depressed)
smite (affect suddenly with deep feeling)
hit home; strike a chord; strike a note; strike home (refer to or be relevant or familiar to)
jar (affect in a disagreeable way)
zap (strike suddenly and with force)
strike dumb (render speechless, as by surprising or shocking)
engrave (impress or affect deeply)
awaken (make aware)
impress; ingrain; instill (produce or try to produce a vivid impression of)
surprise (cause to be surprised)
infect (affect in a contagious way)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
Sentence examples:
The bad news will strike him
The good news will strike her
Sense 16
Meaning:
Occupy or take on
Example:
strike a pose
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Verb group:
fill; occupy; take (assume, as of positions or roles)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 17
Meaning:
Drive something violently into a location
Example:
she struck her head on the low ceiling
Synonyms:
hit; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike"):
smash (hit violently)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 18
Meaning:
Cause to experience suddenly
Example:
They were struck with fear
Synonyms:
come to; hit; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Verb group:
affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
Sense 19
Meaning:
Find unexpectedly
Example:
The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
Synonyms:
attain; chance on; chance upon; come across; come upon; discover; fall upon; happen upon; light upon; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
find; regain (come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 20
Meaning:
Stop work in order to press demands
Example:
The employees walked out when their demand for better benefits was not met
Synonyms:
strike; walk out
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
dissent; protest; resist (express opposition through action or words)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
strike (a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions)
striker (an employee on strike against an employer)
Sense 21
Meaning:
Attain
Example:
The horse finally struck a pace
Synonyms:
come to; strike
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
accomplish; achieve; attain; reach (to gain with effort)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 22
Meaning:
Touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly
Example:
A strange sound struck my ears
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "strike" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Context examples:
The site was not expected to be vulnerable to such a strike.
(Human antibody reveals hidden vulnerability in influenza virus, National Institutes of Health)
The clock struck twelve, and it still rained.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
The disease usually strikes between age 40 and 60.
(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
She was struck, quite struck, when, on returning from her walk and going into the East room again, the first thing which caught her eye was a fire lighted and burning.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Hippocalcin shows striking similarity to photoreceptor Ca(2+)-sensitive proteins that regulate photosignal transduction.
(Hippocalcin, NCI Thesaurus)
It usually strikes children under 5 years old.
(Haemophilus Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning at any time of the day or night.
(Earthquakes, Federal Emergency Management Agency)
He played with them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve, everything vanished from his sight.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
When we had got some little distance away, we went into a clump of trees, and struck a match, and looked at the child's throat.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
I am not clear whether he was going to strike Mr. Mell, or Mr. Mell was going to strike him, or there was any such intention on either side.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
