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View synonyms for thrust

thrust

[ thruhst ]

verb (used with object)

, thrust, thrust·ing.
  1. to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force:

    He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back.

  2. to put boldly forth or impose acceptance of:

    to thrust oneself into a conversation between others; to thrust a dollar into the waiter's hand.

  3. to extend; present:

    He thrust his fist in front of my face.

  4. Archaic. to stab or pierce, as with a sword:

    She thrust his back with a dagger.



verb (used without object)

, thrust, thrust·ing.
  1. to push against something.
  2. to push or force one's way, as against obstacles or through a crowd.
  3. to make a thrust, lunge, or stab at something.

noun

  1. an act or instance of thrusting; a forcible push or shove; lunge or stab.
  2. a lunge or stab, as with a sword.
  3. Mechanics. a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc.
  4. Geology. a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults.
  5. the main point, purpose, or essence:

    The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.

  6. Machinery. a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one.
  7. Architecture. the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side.
  8. an organized military attack; assault; offensive.

thrust

/ θrʌst /

verb

  1. tr to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength

    she thrust him away

    she thrust it into the fire

  2. tr to force or impose upon (someone) or into (some condition or situation)

    she was thrust into the limelight

    they thrust extra responsibilities upon her

  3. trfoll bythrough to pierce; stab
  4. intr; usually foll by through or into to force a passage or entrance
  5. intr to push forwards, upwards, or outwards
  6. intrfoll byat to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
  2. a force, esp one that produces motion
    1. a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc
    2. a similar force produced by a propeller
  3. a pressure that is exerted continuously by one part of an object, structure, etc, against another, esp the axial force by or on a shaft
  4. geology
    1. the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults
  5. civil engineering a force exerted in a downwards and outwards direction, as by an arch or rafter, or the horizontal force exerted by retained earth
  6. force, impetus, or drive

    a man with thrust and energy

  7. the essential or most forceful part

    the thrust of the argument

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

thrust

/ thrŭst /

  1. The force that propels an object in a given direction, especially when generated by the object itself, as by an engine or rocket.


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Other Words From

  • counter·thrust noun
  • pre·thrust noun verb (used with object) prethrust prethrusting
  • un·thrust adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of thrust1

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (verb), from Old Norse thrȳsta “to force, press”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of thrust1

C12: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude
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Example Sentences

From her relative solitude, Raducanu has been thrust back into the energetic team environment.

From BBC

With her hands thrust firmly in her pockets, Auty describes how it was “not uncommon at all” to see prison staff in Bronzefield dealing.

From BBC

Mr Bates vs The Post Office thrust the scandal back into the spotlight after it aired.

From BBC

But the issue of jailing children in particular has been thrust into the spotlight here, after the territory's new government controversially lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 back to 10.

From BBC

Jiang’s teacher, Wang Runqiu, was also thrust into the spotlight, hailed as an educator who noticed and encouraged her passion for maths.

From BBC

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