intransitive verb
1. : to start singing or playing
then an organ in a gallery strikes up — Arnold Bennett
2. : to begin to be sung or played
a march struck up and the parade began
transitive verb
1.
a. : to begin to sing or play
the band struck up a set of waltzes — W.G.Smith
b. : to cause to begin singing or playing
strike up the band
2. : to cause to begin : set afoot
easier to strike up acquaintanceships with local people — Richard Joseph
strike up a conversation with the neighbors — W.H.Whyte