thrust

[ thruhst ]
See synonyms for: thrustthrusting on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to extend; present: He thrust his fist in front of my face.

  2. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Mechanics. a linear reactive force exerted by a propeller, propulsive gases, etc., to propel a ship, aircraft, etc.

  2. Geology. a compressive strain in the crust of the earth that, in its most characteristic development, produces reverse or thrust faults.

  3. the main point, purpose, or essence: The thrust of his speech was an urgent appeal for votes.

  4. Machinery. a pushing force or pressure exerted by a thing or a part against a contiguous one.

  5. Architecture. the downward and outward force exerted by an arch on each side.

  6. an organized military attack; assault; offensive.

Origin of thrust

1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English thrusten, thrysten (verb), from Old Norse thrȳsta “to force, press”

Other words from thrust

  • coun·ter·thrust, noun
  • pre·thrust, noun, verb (used with object), pre·thrust, pre·thrust·ing.
  • un·thrust, adjective

Words Nearby thrust

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use thrust in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for thrust

thrust

/ (θrʌst) /


verbthrusts, thrusting or thrust
  1. (tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength: she thrust him away; she thrust it into the fire

  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

  1. (tr foll by through) to pierce; stab

  2. (intr; usually foll by through or into) to force a passage or entrance

  3. (intr) to push forwards, upwards, or outwards

  4. (intr foll by at) 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

    • 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

  1. 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

  2. geology

    • the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults

  3. 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

  4. force, impetus, or drive: a man with thrust and energy

  5. the essential or most forceful part: the thrust of the argument

Origin of thrust

1
C12: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude

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

Scientific definitions for thrust

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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.