/ straɪd; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( pt strode / strəʊd; NAmE stroʊd/) (not used in the perfect tenses) [ v + adv. / prep. ] to walk with long steps in a particular direction :
We strode across the snowy fields.
She came striding along to meet me.
■ noun
1.
one long step; the distance covered by a step
SYN pace :
He crossed the room in two strides.
I was gaining on the other runners with every stride .
2.
your way of walking or running :
his familiar purposeful stride
She did not slow her stride until she was face to face with us.
3.
an improvement in the way sth is developing :
We're making great strides in the search for a cure.
4.
strides [ pl. ] ( AustralE , informal ) trousers / pants
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IDIOMS
- get into your stride
- put sb off their stride
- (match sb) stride for stride
- take sth in your stride
- without breaking stride
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English stride (noun) single long step , strīdan (verb) stand or walk with the legs wide apart , probably from a Germanic base meaning strive, quarrel; related to Dutch strijden fight and German streiten quarrel.