θrʌst v. & n. --v. (past
and past part. thrust) 1 tr.
push with a
sudden impulse or with force (thrust
the letter into my pocket). 2 tr. (foll. by on)
impose (a thing) forcibly;
enforce acceptance of (a thing) (had it thrust on me). 3 intr. (foll. by
at, through)
pierce or
stab;
make a sudden lunge. 4 tr. make (one's way) forcibly. 5 intr. (foll. by
through, past, etc.) force
oneself (thrust past me abruptly). --n. 1 a sudden or
forcible push or lunge. 2 the propulsive force developed by a jet or rocket
engine. 3 a
strong attempt to
penetrate an enemy's line or
territory. 4 a
remark aimed at a
person. 5 the
stress between the parts of an arch etc. 6 (often foll. by of) the
chief theme or
gist of remarks etc. 7 an
attack with the
point of a
weapon. 8 (in full thrust fault) Geol. a low-angle
reverse fault, with older
strata displaced horizontally
over newer. øthrust-block a
casting or
frame carrying or containing the bearings on
which the collars of a
propeller shaft press. thrust oneself (or one's nose) in
obtrude,
interfere. thrust
stage a stage extending into the
audience. [ME thruste etc. f. ON thr°sta]
