Thrust
Pronunciation
- IPA: /θɹʌst/
- Rhymes: -ÊŒst
Origin
From Old Norse þrysta.
Full definition of thrust
Noun
thrust
(plural thrusts)- (fencing) An attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point.Pierre was a master swordsman, and could parry the thrusts of lesser men with barely a thought.
- A push, stab, or lunge forward (the act thereof.)The cutpurse tried to knock her satchel from her hands, but she avoided his thrust and yelled, "Thief!"
- The force generated by propulsion, as in a jet engine.Spacecraft are engineering marvels, designed to resist the thrust of liftoff, as well as the reverse pressure of the void.
- (figuratively) The primary effort; the goal.Ostensibly, the class was about public health in general, but the main thrust was really sex education.
Synonyms
Verb
- (intransitive) To make advance with force.We thrust at the enemy with our forces.
- (transitive) To force something upon someone.I asked her not to thrust the responsibility on me.
- (transitive) To push out or extend rapidly or powerfully.He thrust his arm into the icy stream and grabbed a wriggling fish, astounding the observers.
- 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody Chapter 1, Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with...on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust from which gnarled and rusty stalks thrust themselves up like withered elfin limbs.
- (transitive) To push or drive with force; to shove.to thrust anything with the hand or foot, or with an instrument
- John Milton (1608-1674)Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves.
- (intransitive) To enter by pushing; to squeeze in.
- John Dryden (1631-1700)And thrust between my father and the god.
- To stab; to pierce; usually with through.