Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » strike

strike

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Strike is defined as to hit, attack, crash into or pierce the skin of someone or something.

(verb)

An example of strike is one person punching another.
An example of strike is the military of one country bombing another.
An example of strike is a car crashing into a stop sign.

Strike is a term used in baseball for a pitched ball that is counted against the batter.

(noun)

An example of strike is when a ball that was perfectly pitched is missed by the batter.

The definition of a strike is the conviction of an unlawful act or when all the pins are knocked down with a bowling ball.

(noun)

An example of strike is being caught, charged and convicted of armed robbery.

See strike in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb struck, struck, stricken, striking

to hit with the hand or a tool, weapon, etc.; smite; specif.,
1. to give a blow to; hit with force: to strike a nail with a hammer
2. to give (a blow, etc.)
3. to remove, knock off, etc. by or as by a blow: to strike a gun from someone's hand
4. to make or impress by stamping, punching, printing, etc.: to strike coins in a mint
5. to pierce or penetrate: struck in the head by a bullet
6. to harpoon or shoot (a whale)
7. to hook (a fish that has risen to the bait) by a pull on the line
8. to seize (the bait): said of a fish
1. to produce (a tone or chord) by hitting a key or keys or touching a string or strings on a musical instrument
2. to touch the strings of (a musical instrument)
to announce (time), as by causing a hammer to hit a bell: said of clocks, etc.
to cause to come into violent or forceful contact; specif.,
1. to cause to hit something: to strike one's head on a beam
2. to thrust (a weapon, implement, etc.) in or into something
3. to bring forcefully into contact: to strike cymbals together
4. to cause to ignite by friction: to strike a match
1. to produce (a light, etc.) by friction
2. to make (an arc) in an arc lamp
to come into violent or forceful contact with; crash into; hit: the stone struck a head
1. to wound with the fangs: said of snakes
2. to attack
to afflict, as with disease, pain, or death
to come into contact with; specif.,
1. to fall on; shine on: light striking the wall
2. to catch or reach (the ear): said of a sound
3. ☆ to come upon; arrive at: the bus struck the main road
4. to make (a path, trail, etc.) as one goes along
5. to notice, find, or hit upon suddenly or unexpectedly
6. ☆ to discover, as after drilling or prospecting: to strike oil
7. to appear to: the sight that struck my eyes
to affect as if by contact, a blow, etc.; specif.,
1. to come into the mind of; occur to: an idea struck me
2. to be attractive to or impress (someone's fancy, sense of humor, etc.)
3. to seem to: an idea that strikes me as silly
4. to cause to become suddenly: to be struck dumb
5. to influence, inspire, or overcome suddenly with strong feeling: to be struck with amazement
6. to cause (a feeling, emotion, etc.) to come suddenly; arouse: to strike terror to the heart
to remove or expunge (from a list, minutes, record, etc.)
1. to make and ratify (a bargain, agreement, truce, etc.)
2. to arrive at by figuring, estimating, etc.: to strike a balance
1. to lower or haul down (a sail, flag, etc.), as in surrendering: sailors formerly struck sails in protest of grievances, to prevent a ship from sailing
2. to take down (a tent, etc.)
3. to abandon (a camp) as by taking down tents
Origin: from strike via obs. sense “to put (tools) out of use” in protest of grievances
to refuse to continue to work at (a factory, company, etc.) until certain demands have been met
1. Obsolete to stroke or smooth
2. to level (a measure of grain, sand mold, etc.) by stroking the top with a straight instrument; strickle
to assume (an attitude, pose, etc.)
1. to send down or put forth (roots): said of plants, etc.
2. to cause (cuttings, etc.) to take root
Obsolete to wage (battle)
Origin: cf. strike
Theater
1. to dismantle and remove (scenery or a set)
2. to remove the scenery of (a play)
3. to turn (a light) down or off

Origin: ME striken, to proceed, flow, strike with rod or sword < OE strican, to go, proceed, advance, akin to Ger streichen < IE *streig- < base *ster-, a streak, strip, to stroke > L stringere, to couch, strigilis, scraper, Ger strahl, ray

intransitive verb

to deliver a blow or blows
to aim a blow or blows: to strike in vain at a ball
1. to attack: the enemy struck at dawn
2. to take part in a fight or struggle (for some objective)
1. to make a sound or sounds as by being struck: said of a bell, clock, etc.
2. to be announced by the striking of a bell, chime, etc.: said of the time
1. to make sudden and violent contact; hit; collide (against, on, or upon)
2. to be noticed; have an effect
to ignite or be capable of igniting, as a match
to seize or snatch at a bait: said of a fish
to make a darting movement in an attempt to inflict a wound: said of a snake, tiger, etc.
to penetrate or pierce (to, through, etc.)
to come suddenly or unexpectedly; fall, light, etc. (on or upon): to strike on the right combination
to run upon a reef, rock, etc.: said of a ship
1. to lower sail
2. to haul down one's flag in token of surrender
to refuse to continue to work until certain demands are met; go on strike
to send out roots; take root: said of a plant
to begin, advance, or proceed, esp. in a new way or direction; turn
to move or pass quickly; dart
☆ U.S. Navy to be in training (for a specified rating)

noun

the act of striking; blow; specif., a military attack: an air strike
strickle
1. a concerted refusal by employees to go on working, in an attempt to force an employer to grant certain demands, as for higher wages, better working conditions, etc.
2. any similar refusal by a person or group of people to do something, undertaken as a form of protest: a hunger strike, a buyers' strike
the discovery of a rich deposit of oil, coal, minerals, etc.
☆ any sudden success, esp. one bringing large financial return
1. ☆ the pull on the line by a fish seizing or snatching at bait
2. the pull that a fisherman gives the line to engage a baited hook in a fish's mouth
the number of coins, medals, etc. struck at one time
the part of a timepiece that strikes
the metal piece on a doorjamb, into which the latch fits when the door is shut
also strike plate
☆ Baseball a pitched ball that is struck at but missed, declared within the strike zone but not struck at, or hit foul but not caught: the batter is out after three strikes but the third strike cannot be a foul ball unless it was on a bunt attempt or unless it was a foul tip that was caught by the catcher
☆ Bowling
1. the act of knocking down all the pins on the first bowl
2. the score made in this way
Geol., Mining the trace of a rock bed, fault, or vein on the horizontal, at right angles to the direction of dip

See strike in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb struck struck (strŭk), struck struck or strick·en (strĭkˈən), strik·ing, strikes

verb, transitive

a. To hit sharply, as with the hand, the fist, or a weapon.
b. To inflict (a blow).
To penetrate or pierce: was struck in the leg by a bullet.
a. To collide with or crash into: She struck the desk with her knee.
b. To cause to come into violent or forceful contact: She struck her knee against the desk.
c. To thrust (a weapon, for example) in or into someone or something: struck the sword into the dragon.
d. To damage or destroy, as by forceful contact: Lightning struck the tree.
To make a military attack on; assault.
To afflict suddenly, as with a disease or impairment: was stricken with cancer.
To cause to become by or as if by a blow: struck him dead.
a. To snap at or seize (a bait).
b. To hook (a fish that has taken the bait) by a pull on the line.
To wound by biting. Used especially of a snake.
To form by stamping, printing, or punching: strike a medallion.
To produce or play by manipulating strings or keys: strike a B flat; strike w, t, and y on the typewriter.
To indicate by a percussive or chiming sound: The clock struck nine.
To produce as if by playing a musical instrument: The report struck a positive note in the final paragraph.
a. To produce by friction or a blow: struck fire from the flints.
b. To produce flame, light, or a spark from by friction: strike a match.
To remove or separate with or as if with a blow: struck the wasp from his shoulder; struck off the diseased branch with a machete.
To eliminate or expunge: strike a statement from the court records.
a. To come upon; discover: struck gold.
b. To come to; attain: finally struck the main trail.
a. To fall upon; shine on: A bright light struck her face.
b. To become audible to: An odd sound struck his ear.
To affect keenly or forcibly; impress. See Synonyms at affect¹.
To enter the mind of: The thought struck me from out of the blue.
a. To cause (a strong emotion) to penetrate deeply: struck terror into their hearts.
b. To affect or overcome with strong emotion: She was struck with alarm at the news.
21.
a. To make and confirm the terms of (a bargain).
b. To achieve (a balance, for example) by careful weighing or reckoning.
22. To take on or assume (a pose, for example).
23. Nautical
a. To haul down (a mast or sail).
b. To lower (a flag or sail) in salute or surrender.
c. To lower (cargo) into a hold.
24. To remove (theatrical properties, a set, or technical equipment) from a stage.
25. To dismantle and pack up for departure: strike camp.
26. To undertake a strike against (an employer).
27.
a. To level or even (a measure, as of grain).
b. To smooth or shape with a strickle.
28.
a. To send (plant roots) out or down.
b. To cause (a plant cutting) to take root.

verb, intransitive

To deal a blow or blows with or as if with the fist or a weapon; hit.
To aim a stroke or blow.
To make contact suddenly or violently; collide: A car and a bus struck at the intersection.
To begin a military attack: The enemy struck unexpectedly.
To penetrate or pierce: The cold struck right through our jackets.
To take bait: The fish are striking.
To dart or shoot suddenly forward in an attempt to inflict a bite or wound. Used of snakes and wild animals.
To set out or proceed, especially in a new direction: struck off into the forest.
To begin to move: The horse struck into a gallop.
a. To send out roots.
b. To sprout.
a. To indicate the time by making a percussive or chiming sound: The clock struck just as we left.
b. To become indicated by a percussive or chiming sound: The hour has struck.
To become ignited.
To discover something suddenly or unexpectedly: struck on a new approach.
To fall, as light or sound: sunlight striking on the cliffs; a din struck upon their ears.
To have an effect; make an impression.
To engage in a strike against an employer.
To interrupt by pushing oneself forward: struck rudely into the conversation.
To strive diligently for a specific technical rating in the U.S. Navy.

noun

An act or a gesture of striking.
An attack, especially a military air attack on a single group of targets.
a. A cessation of work by employees in support of demands made on their employer, as for higher pay or improved conditions.
b. A temporary stoppage of normal activity undertaken as a protest.
A sudden achievement or valuable discovery, as of a precious mineral.
a. The taking of bait by a fish.
b. A pull on a fishing line indicating this.
A quantity of coins or medals struck at the same time.
Baseball
a. Abbr. S A pitched ball that is counted against the batter, typically one that is swung at and missed, fouled off, or judged to have passed through the strike zone.
b. A perfectly thrown ball.
An unfavorable condition, circumstance, or characteristic; a disadvantage: “[They] were trying to sell a movie with several strikes against it as a mass-audience ‘property’” (John Sayles).
An unlawful act, especially one that results in a conviction.
Sports The knocking down of all the pins in bowling with the first bowl of a frame.
The taking root and growing of a plant cutting.
Geology The course or bearing of a structural surface, such as an inclined bed, as it intersects a horizontal plane.
The removal of all properties, sets, and technical equipment following a final performance, as of a play or concert.
A strickle.

Phrasal Verbs: strike down To cause to fall by a blow. To incapacitate or kill: He was struck down by tuberculosis. To render ineffective; cancel: The court struck down the law. strike out To begin a course of action. To set out energetically. Baseball

a. To pitch three strikes to (a batter), putting the batter out.

b. To be struck out.

To fail in an endeavor. strike up

a. To start to play music or sing: The band suddenly struck up.

b. To start to play or sing (something): The orchestra struck up a waltz.

c. To cause to start to play or sing: Strike up the band!

To initiate or begin: strike up a conversation.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English striken

Origin: , from Old English strīcan, to stroke; see streig- in Indo-European roots

Our Living Language The central role that baseball has played in American culture is known to all, but is particularly evident in the abundance of baseball expressions applied to circumstances outside the sport. When people say that they have struck out in an endeavor, they are using one such expression. We routinely speak of ballpark figures or estimates, of some unexpected quirk of fate or tricky question on an exam being a curve ball, of minor-league or bush-league players in a field or business, who might one day enter the big leagues. If we can't go to lunch with a person who invites us, we take a rain check. We can go to bat or pinch-hit for a friend. We can be off base about something or so disconnected we are out in left field. When we cooperate we are playing ball, and when we get serious or even ruthless about something, we are playing hardball. Some unfortunate people are said to have been born with two strikes against them if bad things come their way right off the bat. The list could go on and on, but that would only be running up the score.

Learn more about strike

strike synonyms

strike Culture

strike legal definition

strike phrase meanings

strike science

strike in a sentence

strike quotes

link/cite print suggestion box