thrust
Americanverb (used with object)
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to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force.
He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back.
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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.
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to extend; present.
He thrust his fist in front of my face.
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Archaic. to stab or pierce, as with a sword.
She thrust his back with a dagger.
verb (used without object)
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to push against something.
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to push or force one's way, as against obstacles or through a crowd.
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to make a thrust, lunge, or stab at something.
noun
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an act or instance of thrusting; a forcible push or shove; lunge or stab.
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a lunge or stab, as with a sword.
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Mechanics. a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc.
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Geology. a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults.
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the main point, purpose, or essence.
The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.
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Machinery. a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one.
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Architecture. the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side.
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an organized military attack; assault; offensive.
verb
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(tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength
she thrust him away
she thrust it into the fire
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(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
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to pierce; stab
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(intr; usually foll by through or into) to force a passage or entrance
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(intr) to push forwards, upwards, or outwards
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to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)
noun
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a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
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a force, esp one that produces motion
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a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc
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a similar force produced by a propeller
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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
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geology
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the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults
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See thrust fault
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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
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force, impetus, or drive
a man with thrust and energy
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the essential or most forceful part
the thrust of the argument
Other Word Forms
- counterthrust noun
- prethrust nounprethrust, prethrusting
- unthrust adjective
Etymology
Origin of thrust
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (verb), from Old Norse thrȳsta “to force, press”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We are on the same side, is the thrust of their message, and this is a waste of your energy because Greenland's future is for Greenlanders to decide.
From BBC
I will never know what it’s like to be a young person thrust into the global spotlight.
From Los Angeles Times
Suddenly he was thrust into becoming her primary caregiver as well as looking after their newborn son Leo.
From BBC
In a separate situation, Lopez said, an 18-year-old has been suddenly thrust into caring for two siblings after her mother, a single parent, was deported.
From Los Angeles Times
The last two weeks have thrust Vonn back onto the international stage as well as the podium, which she climbed in four of her first five races this season.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
