/ θrʌst; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( thrust , thrust )
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to push sth/sb suddenly or violently in a particular direction; to move quickly and suddenly in a particular direction :
[ vn ]
He thrust the baby into my arms and ran off.
She thrust her hands deep into her pockets.
( figurative )
He tends to thrust himself forward too much.
[ v ]
She thrust past him angrily and left.
2.
thrust (at sb) (with sth) | thrust (sth at sb) to make a sudden strong forward movement at sb with a weapon, etc. :
[ v ]
He thrust at me with a knife.
a thrusting movement
[also vn ]
•
IDIOMS
see throat
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- thrust sth aside
- thrust sth/sb on / upon sb
■ noun
1.
the thrust [ sing. ] the main point of an argument, a policy, etc. :
The thrust of his argument was that change was needed.
2.
[ C ] a sudden strong movement that pushes sth/sb forward :
He killed her with a thrust of the knife.
3.
[ U ] ( technical ) the force that is produced by an engine to push a plane, rocket , etc. forward
•
IDIOMS
see cut noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): from Old Norse thrýsta ; perhaps related to Latin trudere to thrust. The noun is first recorded (early 16th cent.) in the sense act of pressing .