second-strike

[ sek-uhnd-strahyk ]

/ ˈsɛk əndˈstraɪk /

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adjective

noting, pertaining to, or using nuclear forces capable of withstanding attack and retaliating after an adversary has launched a first strike.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of second-strike

First recorded in 1960–65; second¹ + strike (in the sense “military attack”

OTHER WORDS FROM second-strike

second strike, noun

Words nearby second-strike

second sex, second sheet, second sight, second story, second-story man, second-strike, second string, second thought, second thoughts, second to none, second unit

How to use second-strike in a sentence

“To have a second-strike capability against India would give Pakistan a huge benefit,” he told me.
Iran's Nuclear Domino Effect|Andrew Roberts|January 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for second-strike

second-strike

adjective

(of a nuclear weapon) intended to be used in a counterattack in response to a nuclear attack

(of a strategy) based on the concept of surviving an initial nuclear attack with enough nuclear weaponry to retaliate

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