(~s, striking, struck, stricken)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: 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.
When there is a ~, 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 ~ in a dispute over pay...
Staff at the hospital went on ~ in protest at the incidents.
...a call for ~ action.
N-COUNT: also on N
2.
When workers ~, they go on ~. (BUSINESS)
...their recognition of the workers’ right to ~...
They shouldn’t be striking for more money...
The government agreed not to sack any of the striking workers.
VERB: V, V for n, V-ing
~r (~rs)
The ~rs want higher wages, which state governments say they can’t afford.
N-COUNT
3.
If you ~ 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.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n
4.
If something that is falling or moving ~s 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
VERB: V n, V n
5.
If you ~ one thing against another, or if one thing ~s 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
VERB: V n on/against n, V against n
6.
If something such as an illness or disaster ~s, 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...
VERB: V, V n
7.
To ~ means to attack someone or something quickly and violently.
The attacker struck as she was walking near a housing estate at Monacurra...
VERB: V
8.
A military ~ is a military attack, especially an air attack.
...a punitive air ~.
...a nuclear ~.
N-COUNT: with supp, oft N against n
9.
If something ~s 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 ~s at the very heart of her being...
VERB: V at n
10.
If an idea or thought ~s 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.
VERB: no cont, V n, it V n that/ how
11.
If something ~s 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.
VERB: V n as n/adj, V n as -ing
12.
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.
VERB: be V-ed by/with n, V n
13.
If you ~ 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.
V-RECIP: V n with n, pl-n V n, V n (non-recip)
14.
If you ~ a balance, you do something that is halfway between two extremes.
At times like that you have to ~ a balance between sleep and homework.
VERB: V n
15.
If you ~ 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
VERB: V n
16.
If something ~s fear into people, it makes them very frightened or anxious. (LITERARY)
If there is a single subject guaranteed to ~ fear in the hearts of parents, it is drugs.
VERB: V n into n
17.
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...
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed adj
18.
When a clock ~s, its bells make a sound to indicate what the time is.
The clock struck nine...
Finally, the clock ~s.
VERB: V n, V
19.
If you ~ words from a document or an official record, you remove them. (FORMAL)
Strike that from the minutes...
VERB: V n from n, also V n
•
Strike out means the same as ~ .
The censor struck out the next two lines.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
20.
When you ~ 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.
VERB: V n
21.
If someone ~s 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.
VERB: V n
22.
When a coin or medal is struck, it is made.
Another medal was specially struck for him.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed
23.
see also stricken , striking , hunger ~
24.
If you ~ 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.
PHRASE: V inflects
25.
If you ~ it rich, you make a lot of money, especially in a short time. (INFORMAL)
He hoped to ~ it rich by investing in ginseng.
PHRASE: V inflects
26.
to ~ a chord: see chord
to ~ home: see home
to ~ it lucky: see lucky
to ~ a happy medium: see medium