̈ɪstraɪk v. & n. --v. (past
struck;
past part. struck or
archaic stricken) 1 a tr.
subject to an
impact. b tr.
deliver (a blow) or
inflict a blow
on. 2 tr.
come or
bring sharply
into contact with (the
ship struck a rock). 3 tr.
propel or
divert with a blow (struck
the ball into the pond). 4 intr. (foll. by at)
try to
hit. 5 tr.
penetrate or
cause to penetrate (struck
terror into him). 6 tr.
ignite (a match) or
produce (sparks etc.) by
rubbing. 7 tr.
make (a coin) by stamping. 8 tr. produce (a
musical note) by
striking. 9 a tr. (also absol.) (of a clock)
indicate (the time) by the
sounding of a chime etc. b intr. (of time) be indicated in
this way. 10 tr. a
attack suddenly (was struck with
sudden terror). b (of a disease)
afflict. 11 tr. cause to
become suddenly (was struck dumb). 12 tr.
reach or
achieve (strike a balance). 13 tr.
agree on (a bargain). 14 tr.
assume (an attitude) suddenly
and dramatically. 15 tr. a
discover or come
across. b
find (oil etc.) by drilling. c
encounter (an
unusual thing etc.). 16 come to the
attention of or
appear to (it strikes me as
silly; an
idea suddenly struck me). 17 a intr. (of employees)
engage in a strike;
cease work as a
protest. b tr. US
act in this way
against (an employer). 18 a tr. lower or
take down (a flag or tent etc.). b intr.
signify surrender by striking a flag; surrender. 19 intr. take a specified
direction (struck east). 20 tr. (also absol.)
secure a
hook in the
mouth of (a fish) by jerking the
tackle. 21 tr. (of a snake) wound with
its fangs. 22 intr. (of oysters)
attach themselves to a
bed. 23 a tr.
insert (the
cutting of a plant) in soil to take root. b tr. (also absol.) (of a
plant or cutting etc.) put
forth (roots). 24 tr.
level (grain etc. or the measure) in strike-measure. 25 tr. a
ascertain (a balance) by deducting
credit or
debit from the
other. b
arrive at (an
average,
state of balance) by equalizing
all items. 26
compose (a jury)
esp. by allowing
both sides to
reject the
same number. --n. 1 the act or an
instance of striking. 2 a the organized
refusal by employees to work
until some grievance is remedied. b a
similar refusal to
participate in some other expected
activity. 3 a sudden find or
success (a
lucky strike). 4 an attack, esp. from the
air. 5
Baseball a batter's
unsuccessful attempt to hit a pitched ball, or
another event counting equivalently against a batter. 6 the act of knocking down all the pins with the
first ball in
bowling. 7
horizontal direction in a geological
structure. 8 a
strickle. øon strike
taking part in an
industrial etc. strike. strike at the root (or roots) of see
ROOT(1). strike
back 1 strike or attack in
return. 2 (of a gas-burner) burn from an
internal point before the
gas has become
mixed with air. strike down 1
knock down. 2 bring low; afflict (struck down by a virus). strike
home 1 deal an
effective blow. 2
have an
intended effect (my words struck home). strike in 1
intervene in a
conversation etc. 2 (of a disease) attack the
interior of the
body from the
surface. strike it
rich colloq. find a
source of
abundance or success. strike a
light 1 produce a light by striking a match. 2
Brit. sl. an
expression of
surprise,
disgust, etc. strike lucky have a lucky success. strike-measure
measurement by
passing a
rod across the top of a heaped
vessel to
ensure that it is
exactly full. strike
off 1
remove with a
stroke. 2
delete (a
name etc.) from a list. 3 produce (copies of a document). strike
oil 1 find
petroleum by sinking a
shaft. 2
attain prosperity or success. strike
out 1 hit out. 2 act vigorously. 3 delete (an
item or name etc.). 4 set off or
begin (struck out eastwards). 5
use the arms and legs in swimming. 6 forge or
devise (a
plan etc.). 7 Baseball a
dismiss (a batter) by
means of
three strikes. b be dismissed in this way. strike pay an
allowance paid to strikers by
their trade union. strike
through delete (a
word etc.) with a stroke of one's
pen. strike up 1
start (an
acquaintance, conversation, etc.) esp. casually. 2 (also absol.) begin playing (a
tune etc.). strike
upon 1 have (an idea etc.)
luckily occur to
one. 2 (of light)
illuminate. strike
while the
iron is
hot act promptly at a
good opportunity. struck on colloq.
infatuated with. øøstrikable adj. [OE strican go, stroke f. WG]