striking Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun the physical coming together of two or more things
   impinging; contact.
   
   • contact with the pier scraped paint from the hull
2. noun the act of contacting one thing with another
   hitting; hit.
   
   • repeated hitting raised a large bruise
   • after three misses she finally got a hit
3. verb deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
   strike.
   
   • The teacher struck the child
   • the opponent refused to strike
   • The boxer struck the attacker dead
4. verb have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
   strike; affect; move; impress.
   
   • This child impressed me as unusually mature
   • This behavior struck me as odd
5. verb hit against; come into sudden contact with
   strike; run into; hit; collide with; impinge on.
   
   • The car hit a tree
   • He struck the table with his elbow
6. verb make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target
   strike; hit.
   
   • The Germans struck Poland on Sept. 1, 1939
   • We must strike the enemy's oil fields
   • in the fifth inning, the Giants struck, sending three runners home to win the game 5 to 2
7. verb indicate (a certain time) by striking
   strike.
   
   • The clock struck midnight
   • Just when I entered, the clock struck
8. verb affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely
   strike; hit.
   
   • We were hit by really bad weather
   • He was stricken with cancer when he was still a teenager
   • The earthquake struck at midnight
9. verb stop work in order to press demands
   strike; walk out.
   
   • The auto workers are striking for higher wages
   • The employees walked out when their demand for better benefits was not met
10. verb touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly
    shine; strike; fall.
    
    • Light fell on her face
    • The sun shone on the fields
    • The light struck the golden necklace
    • A strange sound struck my ears
11. verb attain
    strike; come to.
    
    • The horse finally struck a pace
12. verb produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments, also metaphorically
    strike; hit.
    
    • The pianist strikes a middle C
    • strike `z' on the keyboard
    • her comments struck a sour note
13. verb cause to form (an electric arc) between electrodes of an arc lamp
    strike.
    
    • strike an arc
14. verb find unexpectedly
    happen upon; fall upon; attain; come upon; chance upon; discover; light upon; come across; strike; chance on.
    
    • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
    • she struck a goldmine
    • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
15. verb produce by ignition or a blow
    strike.
    
    • strike fire from the flintstone
    • strike a match
16. verb remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
    strike; scratch; excise; expunge.
    
    • Please strike this remark from the record
    • scratch that remark
17. verb cause to experience suddenly
    strike; come to; hit.
    
    • Panic struck me
    • An interesting idea hit her
    • A thought came to me
    • The thought struck terror in our minds
    • They were struck with fear
18. verb drive something violently into a location
    strike; hit.
    
    • he hit his fist on the table
    • she struck her head on the low ceiling
19. verb occupy or take on
    assume; strike; take up; take.
    
    • He assumes the lotus position
    • She took her seat on the stage
    • We took our seats in the orchestra
    • She took up her position behind the tree
    • strike a pose
20. verb form by stamping, punching, or printing
    strike; coin; mint.
    
    • strike coins
    • strike a medal
21. verb smooth with a strickle
    strike; strickle.
    
    • strickle the grain in the measure
22. verb pierce with force
    strike.
    
    • The bullet struck her thigh
    • The icy wind struck through our coats
23. verb arrive at after reckoning, deliberating, and weighing
    strike.
    
    • strike a balance
    • strike a bargain
24. adjective satellite sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
    dramatic; spectacular.
    
    • a dramatic sunset
    • a dramatic pause
    • a spectacular display of northern lights
    • it was a spectacular play
    • his striking good looks always created a sensation
25. adjective satellite having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
    salient; prominent; spectacular; outstanding.
    
    • an outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to their own freedom
    • a new theory is the most prominent feature of the book
    • salient traits
    • a spectacular rise in prices
    • a striking thing about Picadilly Circus is the statue of Eros in the center
    • a striking resemblance between parent and child

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