Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for thrust on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), thrust, thrust·ing. to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force: He thrust his way through the crowd. She thrust a dagger into his back. 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. to extend; present: He thrust his fist in front of my face. Archaic to stab or pierce, as with a sword: She thrust his back with a dagger. Show More
verb (used without object), thrust, thrust·ing. to push against something. to push or force one's way, as against obstacles or through a crowd. to make a thrust, lunge, or stab at something. Show More
an act or instance of thrusting; a forcible push or shove; lunge or stab. a lunge or stab, as with a sword. Mechanics a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc. Geology a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults. the main point, purpose, or essence: The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes. Machinery a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one. Architecture the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side. an organized military attack; assault; offensive. Show More
Origin of thrust 1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (v.) < Old Norse thrȳsta to thrust, force, press
Related forms coun·ter·thrust , noun pre·thrust , noun, verb (used with object), pre·thrust, pre·thrust·ing. un·thrust , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for thrust upshot ,
gist ,
core ,
impetus ,
momentum ,
lob ,
plunge ,
nudge ,
shove ,
propel ,
heave ,
sling ,
dig ,
punch ,
lunge ,
smack ,
poke ,
stab ,
stick ,
interject Examples from the Web for thrust Contemporary Examples of thrust But with the outbreak of hostilities in mid-2011, all festivities were thrust into the deep freeze.
Suddenly, a tall, curly haired white man appeared and thrust himself in the middle of the opposing forces.
Thrust into a world of seemingly supernatural monsters, his adventure begins.
Presidents must act at least as much as they react; they must seize the initiative and thrust their enemies on the defensive.
Volcanoes spewed lava and ash, ocean floors were thrust upward, sand and rock and shale settled into slurry.
Historical Examples of thrust A broken kitchen knife had been thrust through a bit of the paper on the box.
Viviette followed him, but he turned on her rudely and thrust her back.
But mark these houses, Alleyne, how they thrust forth upon the top.
But that choice is not thrust upon us by the nature of things.
They found her afterwards by her own hearthstone, thrust through by a Frenchman's bill.
British Dictionary definitions for thrust verb thrusts , thrusting or thrust (tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength she thrust him away ; she thrust it into the fire (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 (tr foll by through ) to pierce; stab (intr; usually foll by through or into) to force a passage or entrance (intr) to push forwards, upwards, or outwards (intr foll by at ) to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing) Show More
a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge a force, esp one that produces motion a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc a similar force produced by a propeller 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 geology the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults See thrust fault 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 force, impetus, or drive a man with thrust and energy the essential or most forceful part the thrust of the argument Show More
Word Origin for thrust C12: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for thrust v. late 12c., from Old Norse þrysta "to thrust, force," from Proto-Germanic *thrustijanan , perhaps from PIE *trud- "push, press" (see threat ), but OED finds this derivation doubtful. The noun is recorded from 1510s; figurative sense of "principal theme, aim, point, purpose" is recorded from 1968.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
The force that propels an object in a given direction, especially when generated by the object itself, as by an engine or rocket. Show More
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