STRIKE | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English strīcan ‘go, flow’ and ‘rub lightly’, of West Germanic origin; related to German streichen ‘to stroke’, also to stroke. The sense ‘deliver a blow’ dates from Middle English

hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or a weapon or other implement

hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or weapon or other implement

• he raised his hand, as if to strike me
• one man was struck on the head with a stick
• Ewan struck out at her

(of a disaster, disease, or other unwelcome phenomenon) occur suddenly and have harmful or damaging effects on

occur suddenly and have harmful or damaging effects on

• a major earthquake struck the island
• tragedy struck when Nick was killed in a car crash
• storm-struck areas

(of a thought or idea) come into the mind of (someone) suddenly or unexpectedly

come into mind of someone suddenly or unexpectedly

• a disturbing thought struck Melissa

(of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke

indicate time by sounding chime or stroke

• the church clock struck twelve

ignite (a match) by rubbing it briskly against an abrasive surface

ignite match by rubbing it briskly against abrasive surface

• the match went out and he struck another

(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

(of employees) refuse to work as form of organized protest

• workers may strike over threatened job losses

cancel, remove, or cross out with or as if with a pen

cancel, remove, or cross out with or as if with 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

make (a coin or medal) by stamping metal

make coin or medal by stamping metal

• they struck similar medals on behalf of the Normandy veterans

reach, achieve, or agree to (something involving agreement, balance, or compromise)

reach, achieve, or agree to

• the team has struck a deal with a sports marketing agency
• you have to strike a happy medium

discover (gold, minerals, or oil) by drilling or mining

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

move or proceed vigorously or purposefully

move or proceed vigorously or purposefully

• she struck out into the lake with a practised crawl
• he struck off down the track

take down (a tent or the tents of an encampment)

take down

• it took ages to strike camp

insert (a cutting of a plant) in soil to take root

insert cutting of plant in soil to take root

• best results are obtained from striking them in a propagator

secure a hook in the mouth of a fish by jerking or tightening the line after it has taken the bait or fly.

secure hook in mouth of fish by jerking or tightening line after it has taken bait or fly

a 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

refusal to work organized by body of employees as form of protest

• dockers voted for an all-out strike
• local government workers went on strike
• strike action

a sudden attack, typically a military one

sudden attack

• the threat of nuclear strikes

a discovery of gold, minerals, or oil by drilling or mining

discovery of gold, minerals, or oil by drilling or mining

• the Lena goldfields strike of 1912

a batter's unsuccessful attempt to hit a pitched ball.

batter's unsuccessful attempt to hit pitched ball

the horizontal or compass direction of a stratum, fault, or other geological feature

horizontal or compass direction of stratum

• the mine workings follow the strike of the Bonsor Vein