[hit] vb hit ; hit.ting [ME, fr. OE hittan, fr. ON hitta to meet with, hit] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to reach with or as if with a blow b: to come in contact with "the ball ~ the window"
2. a: to cause to come into contact b: to deliver (as a blow) by action c: to apply forcefully or suddenly "~ the brakes"
3: to affect esp. detrimentally "farmers ~ by drought"
4: to make a request of "~ his friend for
10. dollars"--often used with up
5: to discover or meet esp. by chance
6. a: to accord with: suit b: reach, attain "prices ~ a new high" c: to arrive or appear at, in, or on "~ town" "the best time to ~ the stores" d of fish: to bite at or on e: to reflect accurately "~ the right note" f: to reach or strike (as a target) esp. for a score in a game or contest "couldn't seem to ~ the basket" g: bat 2b 7: to indulge in excessively "~ the bottle" ~ vi 1 a: to strike a blow b: to arrive with a forceful effect like that of a blow "the storm ~"
2. a: to come into contact with something b: attack c of a fish: strike 11b d: bat 1
3: to succeed in attaining or coming up with something--often used with on or upon "~ on a solution"
4. obs: to be in agreement: suit
5. of an internal-combustion engine: to fire the charge in the cylinders -- hit.ter n -- hit it big : to achieve great success -- hit it off : to get along well: become friends "they hit it off immediately" -- hit on : to make esp. sexual overtures to -- hit one's stride : to reach one's best speed or highest potential -- hit the books : to study esp. with intensity -- hit the fan : to have a major usu. undesirable impact -- hit the hay or hit the sack : to go to bed -- hit the high points or hit the high spots : to touch on or at the most important points or places -- hit the jackpot : to become notably and unexpectedly successful -- hit the nail on the head : to be exactly right -- hit the road : leave, travel; also: to set out -- hit the roof or hit the ceiling : to give vent to a burst of anger or angry protest -- hit the spot : to give complete or special satisfaction--used esp. of food or drink
[2]hit n (15c) 1: an act or instance of hitting or being hit "more ~s than misses" "took a financial ~"
2. a: a stroke of luck b: a great success
3: a telling or critical remark
4: base hit
5: a quantity of a narcotic drug ingested at one time
6: a premeditated murder committed esp. by a member of a crime syndicate -- hit.less adj