strike
♦♦ strike /str'aɪk/ (strikes striking struck stricken)
The form struck is the past tense and past participle. The form stricken can also be used as the past participle for meanings 6 and 17.
1 [N-COUNT] also on N
When there is a strike, workers stop doing their work for a period of time, usually in order to try to get better pay or conditions for themselves. (BUSINESS)
French air traffic controllers have begun a three-day strike in a dispute over pay...
Staff at the hospital went on strike in protest at the incidents.
...a call for strike action.
2 [VERB] V, V for n, V-ing
When workers strike, they go on strike. (BUSINESS)
...their recognition of the workers' right to strike...
They shouldn't be striking for more money...
The government agreed not to sack any of the striking workers.
● striker [N-COUNT]
The strikers want higher wages, which state governments say they can't afford.
3 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n
If you strike someone or something, you deliberately hit them. (FORMAL)
She took two quick steps forward and struck him across the mouth...
It is impossible to say who struck the fatal blow.
4 [VERB] V n, V n
If something that is falling or moving strikes something, it hits it. (FORMAL)
His head struck the bottom when he dived into the 6ft end of the pool...
One 16-inch shell struck the control tower...
= hit
5 [VERB] V n on/against n, V against n
If you strike one thing against another, or if one thing strikes against another, the first thing hits the second thing. (FORMAL)
Wilde fell and struck his head on the stone floor...
My right toe struck against a submerged rock.
= bang
6 [VERB] V, V n
If something such as an illness or disaster strikes, it suddenly happens.
Bank of England officials continued to insist that the pound would soon return to stability but disaster struck...
A powerful earthquake struck the Italian island of Sicily early this morning...
7 [VERB] V
To strike means to attack someone or something quickly and violently.
The attacker struck as she was walking near a housing estate at Monacurra...
8 [N-COUNT] with supp, oft N against n
A military strike is a military attack, especially an air attack.
...a punitive air strike.
...a nuclear strike.
9 [VERB] V at n
If something strikes at the heart or root of something, it attacks or conflicts with the basic elements or principles of that thing. (LITERARY)
...a rejection of her core beliefs and values, which strikes at the very heart of her being...
10 [VERB] no cont, V n, it V n that/how
If an idea or thought strikes you, it suddenly comes into your mind.
A thought struck her. Was she jealous of her mother, then?...
At this point, it suddenly struck me that I was wasting my time.
11 [VERB] V n as n/adj, V n as -ing
If something strikes you as being a particular thing, it gives you the impression of being that thing.
He struck me as a very serious but friendly person...
You've always struck me as being an angry man.
12 [VERB] be V-ed by/with n, V n
If you are struck by something, you think it is very impressive, noticeable, or interesting.
She was struck by his simple, spellbinding eloquence...
What struck me about the firm is how genuinely friendly and informal it is.
13 [V-RECIP] V n with n, pl-n V n, V n (non-recip)
If you strike a deal or a bargain with someone, you come to an agreement with them.
They struck a deal with their paper supplier, getting two years of newsprint on credit...
The two struck a deal in which Rendell took half of what a manager would...
He insists he has struck no bargains for their release.
14 [VERB] V n
If you strike a balance, you do something that is halfway between two extremes.
At times like that you have to strike a balance between sleep and homework.
15 [VERB] V n
If you strike a pose or attitude, you put yourself in a particular position, for example when someone is taking your photograph.
She struck a pose, one hand on her hip and the other waving an imaginary cigarette.
= adopt
16 [VERB] V n into n
If something strikes fear into people, it makes them very frightened or anxious. (LITERARY)
If there is a single subject guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of parents, it is drugs.
17 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed adj
If you are struck dumb or blind, you suddenly become unable to speak or to see. (WRITTEN)
I was struck dumb by this and had to think it over for a moment...
18 [VERB] V n, V
When a clock strikes, its bells make a sound to indicate what the time is.
The clock struck nine...
Finally, the clock strikes.
19 [VERB] V n from n, also V n
If you strike words from a document or an official record, you remove them. (FORMAL)
Strike that from the minutes...
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Strike out means the same as strike.
The censor struck out the next two lines.
20 [VERB] V n
When you strike a match, you make it produce a flame by moving it quickly against something rough.
Robina struck a match and held it to the crumpled newspaper in the grate.
21 [VERB] V n
If someone strikes oil or gold, they discover it in the ground as a result of mining or drilling.
Hamilton Oil announced that it had struck oil in the Liverpool Bay area of the Irish Sea.
22 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
When a coin or medal is struck, it is made.
Another medal was specially struck for him.
23
see also stricken, striking,
24 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you strike gold, you find, do, or produce something that brings you a lot of money or success. (JOURNALISM)
The company has struck gold with its new holiday development, Center Parcs.
25 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you strike it rich, you make a lot of money, especially in a short time. (INFORMAL)
He hoped to strike it rich by investing in ginseng.
26
to strike a chord: see chord
to strike home: see home
to strike it lucky: see lucky
to strike a happy medium: see mediumair strike (air strikes)
also airstrike
[N-COUNT]
An air strike is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is carrying out the attack.
A senior defence official said last night that they would continue the air strikes.gen|er|al strike (general strikes)
[N-COUNT]
A general strike is a situation where most or all of the workers in a country are on strike and are refusing to work.hun|ger strike (hunger strikes)
[N-VAR]
If someone goes on hunger strike or goes on a hunger strike, they refuse to eat as a way of protesting about something.
The protesters have been on hunger strike for 17 days...
● hunger striker [N-COUNT]
The five hunger strikers in London called off their strike and celebrated the good news.light|ning strike (lightning strikes)
[N-COUNT]
A lightning strike is a strike in which workers stop work suddenly and without any warning, in order to protest about something. (BRIT)
Bank staff are to stage a series of lightning strikes in a dispute over staffing.strike back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P at n
If you strike back, you harm or criticize someone who has harmed or criticized you.
Our instinctive reaction when someone causes us pain is to strike back...
Sometimes, Kappy got angry and struck back at him in whatever way she could...strike down
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P
If someone is struck down, especially by an illness, they are killed or severely harmed by it. (WRITTEN)
Frank had been struck down by a massive heart attack.strike off
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P, be V-ed P n
If someone such as a doctor or lawyer is struck off, their name is removed from the official register and they are not allowed to do medical or legal work any more. (BRIT)
...a company lawyer who had been struck off for dishonest practices...
He could be struck off the medical register.strike out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If you strike out, you begin to do something different, often because you want to become more independent.
She wanted me to strike out on my own, buy a business.
...a desire to make changes and to strike out in new directions.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P at n, V P
If you strike out at someone, you hit, attack, or speak angrily to them.
He seemed always ready to strike out at anyone and for any cause...
Frampton struck out blindly, hitting not Waddington, but an elderly man.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone strikes out, they fail. (AM INFORMAL)
The lawyer admitted that he was the firm's second lawyer. The first one had struck out completely.
4
see also strike 19strike up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
When you strike up a conversation or friendship with someone, you begin one. (WRITTEN)
I trailed her into Penney's and struck up a conversation...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P
When musicians strike up a piece of music, or when music strikes up, the music begins.
And then the orchestra struck up the National Anthem...
The band struck up, and riders paraded round the ring.
The form struck is the past tense and past participle. The form stricken can also be used as the past participle for meanings 6 and 17.
1 [N-COUNT] also on N
When there is a strike, workers stop doing their work for a period of time, usually in order to try to get better pay or conditions for themselves. (BUSINESS)
French air traffic controllers have begun a three-day strike in a dispute over pay...
Staff at the hospital went on strike in protest at the incidents.
...a call for strike action.
2 [VERB] V, V for n, V-ing
When workers strike, they go on strike. (BUSINESS)
...their recognition of the workers' right to strike...
They shouldn't be striking for more money...
The government agreed not to sack any of the striking workers.
● striker [N-COUNT]
The strikers want higher wages, which state governments say they can't afford.
3 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n
If you strike someone or something, you deliberately hit them. (FORMAL)
She took two quick steps forward and struck him across the mouth...
It is impossible to say who struck the fatal blow.
4 [VERB] V n, V n
If something that is falling or moving strikes something, it hits it. (FORMAL)
His head struck the bottom when he dived into the 6ft end of the pool...
One 16-inch shell struck the control tower...
= hit
5 [VERB] V n on/against n, V against n
If you strike one thing against another, or if one thing strikes against another, the first thing hits the second thing. (FORMAL)
Wilde fell and struck his head on the stone floor...
My right toe struck against a submerged rock.
= bang
6 [VERB] V, V n
If something such as an illness or disaster strikes, it suddenly happens.
Bank of England officials continued to insist that the pound would soon return to stability but disaster struck...
A powerful earthquake struck the Italian island of Sicily early this morning...
7 [VERB] V
To strike means to attack someone or something quickly and violently.
The attacker struck as she was walking near a housing estate at Monacurra...
8 [N-COUNT] with supp, oft N against n
A military strike is a military attack, especially an air attack.
...a punitive air strike.
...a nuclear strike.
9 [VERB] V at n
If something strikes at the heart or root of something, it attacks or conflicts with the basic elements or principles of that thing. (LITERARY)
...a rejection of her core beliefs and values, which strikes at the very heart of her being...
10 [VERB] no cont, V n, it V n that/how
If an idea or thought strikes you, it suddenly comes into your mind.
A thought struck her. Was she jealous of her mother, then?...
At this point, it suddenly struck me that I was wasting my time.
11 [VERB] V n as n/adj, V n as -ing
If something strikes you as being a particular thing, it gives you the impression of being that thing.
He struck me as a very serious but friendly person...
You've always struck me as being an angry man.
12 [VERB] be V-ed by/with n, V n
If you are struck by something, you think it is very impressive, noticeable, or interesting.
She was struck by his simple, spellbinding eloquence...
What struck me about the firm is how genuinely friendly and informal it is.
13 [V-RECIP] V n with n, pl-n V n, V n (non-recip)
If you strike a deal or a bargain with someone, you come to an agreement with them.
They struck a deal with their paper supplier, getting two years of newsprint on credit...
The two struck a deal in which Rendell took half of what a manager would...
He insists he has struck no bargains for their release.
14 [VERB] V n
If you strike a balance, you do something that is halfway between two extremes.
At times like that you have to strike a balance between sleep and homework.
15 [VERB] V n
If you strike a pose or attitude, you put yourself in a particular position, for example when someone is taking your photograph.
She struck a pose, one hand on her hip and the other waving an imaginary cigarette.
= adopt
16 [VERB] V n into n
If something strikes fear into people, it makes them very frightened or anxious. (LITERARY)
If there is a single subject guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of parents, it is drugs.
17 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed adj
If you are struck dumb or blind, you suddenly become unable to speak or to see. (WRITTEN)
I was struck dumb by this and had to think it over for a moment...
18 [VERB] V n, V
When a clock strikes, its bells make a sound to indicate what the time is.
The clock struck nine...
Finally, the clock strikes.
19 [VERB] V n from n, also V n
If you strike words from a document or an official record, you remove them. (FORMAL)
Strike that from the minutes...
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Strike out means the same as strike.
The censor struck out the next two lines.
20 [VERB] V n
When you strike a match, you make it produce a flame by moving it quickly against something rough.
Robina struck a match and held it to the crumpled newspaper in the grate.
21 [VERB] V n
If someone strikes oil or gold, they discover it in the ground as a result of mining or drilling.
Hamilton Oil announced that it had struck oil in the Liverpool Bay area of the Irish Sea.
22 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
When a coin or medal is struck, it is made.
Another medal was specially struck for him.
23
see also stricken, striking,
24 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you strike gold, you find, do, or produce something that brings you a lot of money or success. (JOURNALISM)
The company has struck gold with its new holiday development, Center Parcs.
25 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you strike it rich, you make a lot of money, especially in a short time. (INFORMAL)
He hoped to strike it rich by investing in ginseng.
26
to strike a chord: see chord
to strike home: see home
to strike it lucky: see lucky
to strike a happy medium: see mediumair strike (air strikes)
also airstrike
[N-COUNT]
An air strike is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is carrying out the attack.
A senior defence official said last night that they would continue the air strikes.gen|er|al strike (general strikes)
[N-COUNT]
A general strike is a situation where most or all of the workers in a country are on strike and are refusing to work.hun|ger strike (hunger strikes)
[N-VAR]
If someone goes on hunger strike or goes on a hunger strike, they refuse to eat as a way of protesting about something.
The protesters have been on hunger strike for 17 days...
● hunger striker [N-COUNT]
The five hunger strikers in London called off their strike and celebrated the good news.light|ning strike (lightning strikes)
[N-COUNT]
A lightning strike is a strike in which workers stop work suddenly and without any warning, in order to protest about something. (BRIT)
Bank staff are to stage a series of lightning strikes in a dispute over staffing.strike back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P at n
If you strike back, you harm or criticize someone who has harmed or criticized you.
Our instinctive reaction when someone causes us pain is to strike back...
Sometimes, Kappy got angry and struck back at him in whatever way she could...strike down
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P
If someone is struck down, especially by an illness, they are killed or severely harmed by it. (WRITTEN)
Frank had been struck down by a massive heart attack.strike off
[PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P, be V-ed P n
If someone such as a doctor or lawyer is struck off, their name is removed from the official register and they are not allowed to do medical or legal work any more. (BRIT)
...a company lawyer who had been struck off for dishonest practices...
He could be struck off the medical register.strike out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If you strike out, you begin to do something different, often because you want to become more independent.
She wanted me to strike out on my own, buy a business.
...a desire to make changes and to strike out in new directions.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P at n, V P
If you strike out at someone, you hit, attack, or speak angrily to them.
He seemed always ready to strike out at anyone and for any cause...
Frampton struck out blindly, hitting not Waddington, but an elderly man.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone strikes out, they fail. (AM INFORMAL)
The lawyer admitted that he was the firm's second lawyer. The first one had struck out completely.
4
see also strike 19strike up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
When you strike up a conversation or friendship with someone, you begin one. (WRITTEN)
I trailed her into Penney's and struck up a conversation...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P
When musicians strike up a piece of music, or when music strikes up, the music begins.
And then the orchestra struck up the National Anthem...
The band struck up, and riders paraded round the ring.