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strike

1 strike /ˈstraɪk/ verb
strikes; struck /ˈstrʌk/ ; struck also stricken /ˈstrɪkən/ ; striking /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/
1 strike
/ˈstraɪk/
verb
strikes; struck /ˈstrʌk/ ; struck also stricken /ˈstrɪkən/ ; striking /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/
Britannica Dictionary definition of STRIKE
[+ object]
: to hit (someone or something) in a forceful way
: to cause (something) to hit something in a forceful way
: to hit (someone or something) with your hand, a weapon, etc.
[no object] : to attack someone or something suddenly
often + at
often used figuratively
not used in progressive tenses : to affect (someone or something) suddenly in a bad way : to cause damage, harm, illness, etc., to (someone or something)
[+ object]
often used as (be) stricken
[no object]
often used figuratively
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to cause (someone) to be in a certain condition suddenly usually used as (be) struck
[+ object]
: to cause someone to feel (a strong emotion) suddenly often + in or into
: to affect (someone) with a strong emotion
[+ object] : to cause (something) to happen or exist : to do or achieve (something)
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to be thought of by (someone) suddenly : to occur to (someone)
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to cause (someone) to think about someone or something in a particular way
often + as
[no object] of a group of workers : to stop work in order to force an employer to agree to demands : to refuse to work until your employer does what you want
often + for
10 
of a clock : to make the time known by making a sound
[no object]
[+ object]
11 
[+ object] : to cause (a match) to start burning by rubbing it against a surface
12 
[+ object] : to make (an agreement)
13 
[+ object] : to remove (something) from (something)
14 
not used in progressive tenses, [+ object] : to find or discover (something) especially by digging see also strike gold (below)
15 
[+ object] : to place yourself in (a particular position, posture, etc.)
16 
[+ object] : to play (a note, chord, etc.) on a musical instrument by using your fingers on keys or strings
often used figuratively
17 
always followed by an adverb or preposition, [no object] : to begin to walk or go in a particular direction usually + off or out
see also strike out 4 (below)
18 
[+ object] : to make (a coin, medal, etc.) by pressing an image into a piece of metal

be struck by

informal
: to be very impressed by or pleased with (something or someone)

lightning never strikes (the same place) twice

see 1lightning

strike a chord

see 2chord

strike a nerve

see nerve

strike back

[phrasal verb]
: to try to hurt someone who has hurt you or treated you badly
often + at

strike down

[phrasal verb]
strike (someone) down
: to make (someone) unable to work, act, or function in the usual way usually used as (be) struck down
: to cause (someone) to die suddenly usually used as (be) struck down
strike (something) down or strike down (something) chiefly US, law : to say officially that (something) is no longer legally valid

strike gold

: to have great success with something see also 1strike 14 (above)

strike home

see 2home

strike it rich

informal
: to become rich suddenly

strike off

[phrasal verb]
strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to draw a line through (a name or item on a list)
strike off (something) or strike (something) off : to remove (something) by hitting it with a tool in a forceful way
strike off (someone) or strike (someone) off British : to remove the name of (someone, such as a doctor or lawyer) from an official register usually used as (be) struck off
see also 1strike 17 (above)

strike on/upon

[phrasal verb]
strike on/upon (something) not used in progressive tenses : to find or discover (something) especially suddenly
be struck on British, informal : to like or be impressed by (someone or something) very much

strike out

[phrasal verb]
baseball
strike (someone) out or strike out (someone) of a pitcher : to cause (a batter) to be out by pitching three strikes
of a batter : to make an out by getting three strikes see also strikeout
strike (something) out or strike out (something) : to remove (something) from a document : delete
US, informal : to be unsuccessful : fail
: to begin a course of action see also 1strike 17 (above)
: to try to hit someone or something suddenly often + at
: to make a sudden and angry attack against someone often + at

strike pay dirt

see pay dirt

strike (someone) dead

: to kill (someone) in a quick and unexpected way

strike up

[phrasal verb]
strike up (something)
: to begin to play (a piece of music)
: to cause (an orchestra, a band, etc.) to begin playing
strike up (something) also strike (something) up : to begin (something)

strike while the iron is hot

: to do something immediately while you still have a good chance to do it
see also striking distance
2 strike /ˈstraɪk/ noun
plural strikes
2 strike
/ˈstraɪk/
noun
plural strikes
Britannica Dictionary definition of STRIKE
: a period of time when workers stop work in order to force an employer to agree to their demands
[count]
[noncount]
see also hunger strike, lightning strike
[count] : a military attack
see also first strike, surgical strike at surgical
[count] : the act of hitting something with force
[count]
baseball : a pitch that passes through a certain area over home plate without being hit and that counts against the batter
see also strike zone
US : a perfectly thrown ball or pass
[count] chiefly US : something that makes someone or something less likely to be accepted, approved, successful, etc.
[count] bowling : the achievement of knocking down all 10 pins with the first ball compare 3spare 2
[count] : a discovery of something valuable (such as oil) usually singular