strike

verb (past and past participle struck /strʌk/)

• 1 [with object] hit forcibly and deliberately with one’s hand or a weapon or other implement:he raised his hand, as if to strike me one man was struck on the head with a stick [no object]:Ewan struck out at her
• inflict (a blow): [with two objects]:he struck her two blows on the leg
• accidentally hit (a part of one’s body) against something:she fell, striking her head against the side of the boat
• come into forcible contact or collision with:he was struck by a car in Whitepark Road
• (of a beam or ray of light or heat) fall on (an object or surface):the light struck her ring, reflecting off the diamond
• (in sporting contexts) hit or kick (a ball):he struck the ball into the back of the net
• produce (a musical note) by pressing or hitting a key.

• 2 [with object] (of a disaster, disease, or other unwelcome phenomenon) occur suddenly and have harmful or damaging effects on:a major earthquake struck the island [no object]:tragedy struck when Nick was killed in a car crash (as adjective, in combination struck)storm-struck areas
• [no object] carry out an aggressive or violent action, typically without warning:it was eight months before the murderer struck again
• (usually be struck down) kill or seriously incapacitate (someone):he was struck down by a mystery virus
• (strike something into) cause or create a particular strong emotion in (someone):drugs—a subject guaranteed to strike fear into parents' hearts
• [with object and complement] cause (someone) to be in a specified state:he was struck dumb

• 3 [with object] (of a thought or idea) come into the mind of (someone) suddenly or unexpectedly:a disturbing thought struck Melissa
• cause (someone) to have a particular impression: [with clause]:it struck him that Marjorie was unusually silent the idea struck her as odd
• (be struck by/with) find particularly interesting, noticeable, or impressive:Lucy was struck by the ethereal beauty of the scene
• (be struck on) informal be deeply fond of or infatuated with:she was rather struck on Angus, wasn’t she?

• 4 [no object] (of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke: [with complement]:the church clock struck twelve
• (of time) be indicated by a clock sounding a chime or stroke:eight o’clock struck

• 5 [with object] ignite (a match) by rubbing it briskly against an abrasive surface: the match went out and he struck another
• produce (fire or a spark) as a result of friction:his iron stick struck sparks from the pavement
• bring (an electric arc) into being: heat is generated by an electric arc struck between two graphitic electrodes

• 6 [no object] (of employees) refuse to work as a form of organized protest, typically in an attempt to obtain a particular concession or concessions from their employer:workers may strike over threatened job losses
• [with object] North American undertake strike action against (an employer): photoengravers voted to strike the New York Times

• 7 [with object] cancel, remove, or cross out with or as if with a pen:I will strike his name from the list the Court of Appeal struck out the claim for exemplary damages she was striking words through with a pen
• (strike someone off) officially remove someone from membership of a professional group:he was struck off by the Law Society and will never practise as a solicitor again
• (strike something down) North American abolish a law or regulation: the law was struck down by the Supreme Court

• 8 [with object] make (a coin or medal) by stamping metal: they struck similar medals on behalf of the Normandy veterans
• (in cinematography) make (another print) of a film: the film was reissued on a new print struck from the old negative

• 9 [with object] reach, achieve, or agree to (something involving agreement, balance, or compromise):the team has struck a deal with a sports marketing agency you have to strike a happy medium
• (in financial contexts) reach (a figure) by balancing an account:last year’s loss was struck after allowing for depreciation of £67 million
• Canadian form (a committee): the government struck a committee to settle the issue

• 10 [with object] discover (gold, minerals, or oil) by drilling or mining: if they do strike oil, there will be another test well in a year’s time
• come to or reach:several days out of the village, we struck the Gilgit Road
• [no object] (strike on/upon) discover or think of, especially unexpectedly or by chance:pondering, she struck upon a brilliant idea

• 11 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move or proceed vigorously or purposefully:she struck out into the lake with a practised crawl he struck off down the track
• (strike out) start out on a new or independent course or endeavour:after two years he was able to strike out on his own he’s struck out as a private eye

• 12 [with object] take down (a tent or the tents of an encampment):it took ages to strike camp
• dismantle (theatrical scenery):the minute we finish this evening, they’ll start striking the set
• lower or take down (a flag or sail), especially as a salute or to signify surrender: the ship struck her German colours

• 13 [with object] insert (a cutting of a plant) in soil to take root: best results are obtained from striking them in a propagator
• [no object] (of a plant or cutting) develop roots:small conifers will strike from cuttings
• [no object] (of a young oyster) attach itself to a bed: there is no better surface for the spat to strike on than another oyster

• 14 [no object] Fishing secure a hook in the mouth of a fish by jerking or tightening the line after it has taken the bait or fly.

noun

• 1a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer:dockers voted for an all-out strike [mass noun]:local government workers went on strike [as modifier]:strike action
• [with modifier] an organized refusal to do something expected or required, with a similar aim:a rent strike

• 2a sudden attack, typically a military one:the threat of nuclear strikes
• (in sporting contexts) an act of hitting or kicking a ball:his 32nd-minute strike helped the team to end a run of three defeats
• (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with one’s first ball.
• Fishing an act or instance of jerking or tightening the line to secure a fish that has already taken the bait or fly.

• 3a discovery of gold, minerals, or oil by drilling or mining:the Lena goldfields strike of 1912

• 4 Baseball a batter’s unsuccessful attempt to hit a pitched ball.
• a pitch that passes through the strike zone.
• North American something to one’s discredit:when they returned from Vietnam they had two strikes against them

• 5the horizontal or compass direction of a stratum, fault, or other geological feature: the mine workings follow the strike of the Bonsor Vein