strike

For the verb: "to strike"

Simple Past:	struck
Past Participle:	struck, stricken

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
strike/strʌɪk/

▶verb (past and past part. struck /strʌk/)

• 1 deliver a blow to.

  ■ accidentally hit (a part of one's body) against something.

  ■ come into forcible contact with.

  ■ (in sporting contexts) hit or kick (a ball).

  ■ ignite (a match) by rubbing it briskly against an abrasive surface.

  ■ bring (an electric arc) into being.

• 2 (of a disaster, disease, etc.) occur suddenly and have harmful effects on.

  ■ attack suddenly.

  ■ (strike something into) cause a strong emotion in.

  ■ cause to become suddenly: he was struck dumb.

• 3 suddenly come into the mind of.

  ■ cause to have a particular impression.

  ■ (be struck by/with) find particularly interesting or impressive.

  ■ (be struck on) informal be deeply fond of.

• 4 (of employees) refuse to work as a form of organized protest.

  ■ N. Amer. undertake such action against (an employer).

• 5 cancel or remove by or as if by crossing out with a pen.

  ■ (strike someone off) officially remove someone from membership of a professional group.

• 6 move or proceed vigorously or purposefully.

  ■ (strike out) start out on a new or independent course.

• 7 reach (an agreement, balance, or compromise).

  ■ (in financial contexts) reach (a figure) by balancing an account.

• 8 (of a clock) indicate the time by sounding a chime or stroke.

• 9 make (a coin or medal) by stamping metal.

• 10 discover (gold, minerals, or oil) by drilling or mining.

  ■ (strike on/upon) discover or think of, especially unexpectedly.

• 11 take down or dismantle (a tent, camp, or theatrical scenery).

  ■ lower or take down (a flag or sail).

• 12 insert (a cutting of a plant) in soil to take root.

  ■ develop roots.

  ■ (of a young oyster) attach itself to a bed.

• 13 Fishing secure a hook in the mouth of a fish by jerking or tightening the line after it has taken the bait or fly.

▶noun

• 1 an act of striking by employees.

  ■ a refusal to do something as an organized protest: a rent strike.

• 2 a sudden attack, typically a military one.

• 3 (in sporting contexts) an act of striking a ball.

  ■ (in tenpin bowling) an act of knocking down all the pins with one's first ball.

  ■ Baseball a batter's unsuccessful attempt to hit a pitched ball.

  ■ Baseball a pitch that passes through the strike zone.

• 4 N. Amer. something to one's discredit.

• 5 an act of striking gold, minerals, or oil.

• 6 the horizontal or compass direction of a stratum, fault, or other geological feature.

– phrases
strike an attitude (or pose) hold one's body in a particular position to create an impression.
strike a blow for (or at or against) do something to help (or hinder) a cause, belief, or principle.
strike a light Brit. informal, dated used to express surprise, dismay, or alarm.
strike while the iron is hot make immediate use of an opportunity.

– phrasal verbs
strike back

• 1 retaliate.

• 2 (of a gas burner) burn from an internal point before the gas has become mixed with air.

strike someone out (or strike out)

• 1 Baseball dismiss someone (or be dismissed) by means of three strikes.

• 2 (strike out) N. Amer. informal be unsuccessful.

strike up (or strike something up)

• 1 begin to play a piece of music.

• 2 (strike something up) begin a friendship or conversation with someone.

– origin OE strīcan ‘go, flow’ and ‘rub lightly’, of W. Gmc origin; rel. to stroke.