Top Definitions
Synonyms
Quiz
Related Content
Examples
British
Medical

strip

¹

[ strip ]

/ strɪp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: strip / stripped / stripping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), stripped or (Archaic) stript, strip·ping.

to deprive of covering: to strip a fruit of its rind.

to deprive of clothing; make bare or naked.

to take away or remove: to strip sheets from the bed.

to deprive or divest: to strip a tree of its bark; to strip him of all privileges.

to clear out or empty: to strip a house of its contents.

to deprive of equipment; dismantle: to strip a ship of rigging.

to dispossess, rob, or plunder: to strip a man of his possessions.

to remove varnish, paint, wax, or the like from: The wood should be stripped and then refinished.

to separate the leaves from the stalks of (tobacco).

to remove the midrib, as from tobacco leaves.

Machinery. to break off the thread of (a screw, bolt, etc.) or the teeth of (a gear), as by applying too much force.

to remove the mold from (an ingot).

to draw the last milk from (a cow), especially by a stroking and compressing movement.

to draw out (milk) in this manner.

Photoengraving. to remove (the emulsion from a film base) in order to place it on a glass plate for exposure to the metal plate.

Textiles.

to clean (a carding roller) by removing waste fibers.
to transfer (fibers) from one carding roller to another.
to remove (color) from a cloth or yarn in order to redye it another color.
to remove color from (a cloth or yarn).

Bridge. to lead successively winning cards from (a hand) in order to dispose of as many cards as necessary preparatory to surrendering the lead to an opponent so that any card the opponent plays will be to his or her disadvantage.

Mining. to strip-mine.

Chemistry. to remove the most volatile components from, as by distillation or evaporation.

Finance. to split (a bond) for selling separately as a principal certificate and as interest coupons.

Surgery. to remove (a vein) by pulling it inside out through a small incision, using a long, hooked instrument.

verb (used without object), stripped or (Archaic) stript, strip·ping.

to strip something.

to remove one's clothes.

to perform a striptease.

to become stripped: Bananas strip easily.

noun

a striptease.

OTHER WORDS FOR strip

1 uncover, peel, decorticate.

2 denude.

See synonyms for strip on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR strip

6 supply, equip, furnish.

See antonyms for strip on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR STRIP

When Did "Strip" Start To Mean Getting Naked?

Isn't it interesting when a word can have so many different meanings ... but the one we all think of when we hear the word "strip" is about getting naked. Why is that?

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between "it’s" and "its" in this crafty quiz!

Question 1 of 8

On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of strip

¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb strepe(n), streppin, strippe, unattested Old English -strī(e)pan, -strȳpan, -strēpan (compare Old English bestrȳpan “to rob, plunder,” Middle High German strupfen “to strip off”)

synonym study for strip

7. Strip, deprive, dispossess, divest imply more or less forcibly taking something away from someone. To strip is to take something completely (often violently) from a person or thing so as to leave in a destitute or powerless state: to strip a man of all his property; to strip the bark from a tree. To deprive is to take away forcibly or coercively what one has, or to withhold what one might have: to deprive workers of their livelihood. To dispossess is to deprive of the holding or use of something: to dispossess the renters of a house. Divest usually means depriving of rights, privileges, powers, or the like: to divest a king of authority.

Words nearby strip

string together, string up, string variable, stringy, stringy-bark, strip, strip bond, strip cartoon, strip city, strip club, strip cropping

Other definitions for strip (2 of 2)

strip²

[ strip ]

/ strɪp /

noun

a narrow piece, comparatively long and usually of uniform width: a strip of cloth, metal, land, etc.

a continuous series of drawings or pictures illustrating incidents, conversation, etc., as a comic strip.

Aeronautics.

an airstrip; runway.
landing strip.

Philately. three or more stamps joined either in a horizontal or vertical row.

Informal. striplight.

(sometimes initial capital letter) a road, street, or avenue, usually in a city or a main thoroughfare between outlying suburbs, densely lined on both sides by a large variety of retail stores, gas stations, restaurants, bars, etc.: Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.

verb (used with object), stripped, strip·ping.

to cut, tear, or form into strips.

Printing. to combine (a piece of film) with another, especially for making a combination plate of lines and halftones.

to broadcast (a television series) in multiple related segments, as daily from Monday through Friday.

Origin of strip

²

First recorded in 1425–75; variant of late Middle English stripe, cognate with or borrowed from Middle Low German strippe “strap, thong”; see stripe¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use strip in a sentence

Ditch those neon strips you saw on TikTok, or those fairy lights that have been hanging around your window for years, and turn on a proper lamp to light up your space.
Video games can cause motion sickness—here’s how to fight it|Sandra Gutierrez G.|February 2, 2021|Popular-Science
The first test of the new compatibilizer involved welding together strips of polyethylene and polypropylene.
Chemists are reimagining recycling to keep plastics out of landfills|Maria Temming|January 27, 2021|Science News
Cut away the rough peel in vertical strips, following the curved shape of the root, and then you can prep the vegetable as instructed by the recipe.
Mashed celery root shines in this bright vegan side dish|Aaron Hutcherson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
I attached hook and loop tape with the teeth to the back of frames, putting a strip at the top and bottom.
Hints From Heloise: Tips for mental health|Heloise Heloise|December 26, 2020|Washington Post

Then Wohlfeil’s order came out, opening not only the strip clubs but all dining, and Desmond rejoiced.
Politics Report: Recall Push Not Dismissed|Scott Lewis and Andrew Keatts|December 19, 2020|Voice of San Diego
They then would expect the Senate to strip that amendment and compromise simply on keeping government open for 60 days.
Bachmann and Pelosi vs. Boehner and Obama Over Spending Bill|Ben Jacobs|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You can cut my hair, you can bald me, you can strip me naked and take away my dignity,” she said.
A Quorum For Change: The Fight For Global LGBT Equality|Justin Jones|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I went to a Jewish summer camp…” A van pulls up, and the two hop out, and immediately strip down and do a series of stretches.
James Franco and Seth Rogen Get ‘Naked and Afraid’… And It’s Hilarious|Marlow Stern|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Zied suggests popping a breath strip, sucking on a strong mint, or reapplying your lip gloss.
12 Thanksgiving Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work|DailyBurn|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Next door, a strip mall popped and hissed as unknown accelerants aided in its fiery destruction.
Raging Protesters Set Ferguson on Fire|Justin Glawe|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He returned to the vestibule with the strip folded and somewhat crumpled in his hand.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
She telegraphed to her servants to strip her house of its summer shroud, and returned early on the day of his choice.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
After breakfast he sauntered along the brief strip of asphalt which the villagers believe to be a promenade.
Uncanny Tales|Various
Take a millstone and grind meal: uncover thy shame, strip thy shoulder, make bare thy legs, pass over the rivers.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Then with the aid of rattan nooses they drew it up on the shore, and with their sharp knives proceeded to strip away the skin.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for strip (1 of 2)

strip¹

/ (strɪp) /

verb strips, stripping or stripped

to take or pull (the covering, clothes, etc) off (oneself, another person, or thing)to strip a wall; to strip a bed

(intr)

to remove all one's clothes
to perform a striptease

(tr) to denude or empty completely

(tr) to deprivehe was stripped of his pride

(tr) to rob or plunder

(tr) to remove (paint, varnish, etc) from (a surface, furniture, etc) by sanding, with a solvent, etcstripped pine

Also: pluck (tr) to pull out the old coat of hair from (dogs of certain long- and wire-haired breeds)

to remove the leaves from the stalks of (tobacco, etc)
to separate the two sides of a leaf from the stem of (tobacco, etc)

(tr) agriculture to draw the last milk from each of the teats of (a cow)

to dismantle (an engine, mechanism, etc)

to tear off or break (the thread) from (a screw, bolt, etc) or (the teeth) from (a gear)

(often foll by down) to remove the accessories from (a motor vehicle)his car was stripped down

to remove (the most volatile constituent) from (a mixture of liquids) by boiling, evaporation, or distillation

printing (usually foll by in) to combine (pieces of film or paper) to form a composite sheet from which a plate can be made

(tr) (in freight transport) to unpack (a container)See also stuffing and stripping

noun

the act or an instance of undressing or of performing a striptease

See also strip out

Word Origin for strip

Old English bestriepan to plunder; related to Old High German stroufen to plunder, strip

British Dictionary definitions for strip (2 of 2)

strip²

/ (strɪp) /

noun

a relatively long, flat, narrow piece of something

short for airstrip

philately a horizontal or vertical row of three or more unseparated postage stamps

the clothes worn by the members of a team, esp a football team

commerce a triple option on a security or commodity consisting of one call option and two put options at the same price and for the same periodCompare strap (def. 5)

NZ short for dosing strip

tear someone off a strip informal to rebuke (someone) angrily

verb strips, stripping or stripped

to cut or divide into strips

Word Origin for strip

C15: from Middle Dutch strīpe stripe 1

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

Medical definitions for strip

strip

[ strĭp ]

v.

To press out or drain off by milking.

To make a subcutaneous excision of a vein in its longitudinal axis, usually of a leg vein.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.