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 it into the fire

   she thrust him away

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

   they thrust extra responsibilities upon her

   she was thrust into the limelight

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)

noun

1. a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
2. a force, esp one that produces motion
3. 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
4. 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
5. geology
   1. the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults
   2. See thrust fault
6. 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
7. force, impetus, or drive

   a man with thrust and energy

8. the essential or most forceful part

   the thrust of the argument

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.

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrust¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrust¹

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

Example Sentences

It measures 71-feet long, and its propulsion is provided by three GE -made J85-15 engines that together provide 12,000 lbs of thrust.

From TechCrunch

Both move air to create thrust for the plane, but turboprops are more efficient at lower speeds because the propeller moves more air with a smaller turbine.

From Singularity Hub 

The middle portion of the blade is the sweet spot, generating enough excess thrust to keep the rotor spinning against the drags of the tip and the root.

From Popular-Science

It would be more precise, however, to say that only part of each blade glides because only part of each blade has the right combination of speed and angle of attack to achieve the proper balance between thrust and drag.

From Popular-Science

It’s a large, stable kayak designed as a platform for a saltwater-grade through-hull Minn Kota GPS-enabled trolling motor with 45 pounds of thrust.

From Popular-Science

But with the outbreak of hostilities in mid-2011, all festivities were thrust into the deep freeze.

From The Daily Beast

The central thrust of the sequence derives from historical fact.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly, a  tall, curly haired white man appeared and thrust himself in the middle of the opposing forces.

From The Daily Beast

Thrust into a world of seemingly supernatural monsters, his adventure begins.

From The Daily Beast

Presidents must act at least as much as they react; they must seize the initiative and thrust their enemies on the defensive.

From The Daily Beast

He thrust his tiny tuft of beard between his teeth—a trick he had when perplexed or thoughtful.

From Project Gutenberg

Great was the surprise of Alf at the honour and labour thus thrust upon him, but he did not shrink from it.

From Project Gutenberg

He thrust the Cardinal's mantle into it, and stood over the smouldering cloth, till the whole was consumed to ashes.

From Project Gutenberg

I only saw the glitter of a bayonet which a Mexican thrust into his shoulder, at the very moment he was helping me up.

From Project Gutenberg

I turned round, thrust my purse into the lap of the nearest, and with a light heart led the lady back to the hotel.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dig
• elbow
• heave
• interject
• jab
• lob
• lunge
• nudge
• plunge
• poke
• propel
• punch
• shove
• sink
• sling
• smack
• stab
• stick