thrust

Formsthrusts, thrusting, thrust

Pluralthrusts

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To push or drive someone or something forcefully, as with a shove.

   The guards thrust the prisoner into a cell and slammed the door.

   Rioters tried to thrust the barricade aside as police moved in.

   Similarpress

   Oppositepull

   Note

   The force usually has a destination, and into names it: a prisoner thrust into a cell. Milton's Samson Agonistes (1671) has "Into a dungeon thrust, to work with slaves?" Shove is the everyday equivalent; thrust sounds more dramatic.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A forceful push, stab or lunge forward.

   With one thrust of his shoulder, he forced the stuck door open.

   The robber's knife thrust missed her by inches.

   Similarpush, shove, lunge, stab

3. 3
   main pointnounfigurativelyusually singular

   The chief aim or main effort behind something, such as a plan, argument or story.

   The main thrust of her speech was that the city needs more affordable housing.

   Critics accepted the general thrust of the report but questioned its numbers.

   Similarfocus, point, gist

   Note

   The figure is of a push forward: an argument, class or story has a direction, and its thrust is where the force goes. It usually comes as the thrust of something, often the main or general thrust, and a that-clause can follow (the main thrust was that Britain is losing out). Gist sums up content; thrust adds the purpose driving it.

4. 4
   engine forcenoununcountable

   The force produced by propulsion, as by a jet engine or a rocket.

   At takeoff, the pilots push the engines to full thrust.

   The rocket's first stage produces enough thrust to lift it off the pad.

   Similarpush

   Oppositedrag

5. 5
   force on someoneverbtransitive

   To force something, such as a duty or role, on someone.

   Leadership was thrust upon him when the captain was injured.

   Don't let them thrust the extra work on you just because you're new.

   Similarforce

   Note

   It takes on or upon, and what is thrust is a duty, a role or a responsibility the person did not choose: don't thrust the responsibility on me. In the passive the giver often disappears altogether, as in leadership was thrust upon him.

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To push out or extend something quickly and forcefully.

   She thrust her hand into the bag and pulled out a crumpled ticket.

   Children thrust their hands in the air whenever the teacher asks a question.

   Similarshove, stick, plunge, push

   Note

   Hands and arms thrust out, but so, in description, do things that cannot move at all: towers thrusting skyward, rusty stalks that thrust themselves up from sun-baked flowerpots. The -ing form and the reflexive lend a still scene a sense of upward energy.

7. 7
   advance (army)verbintransitive

   To push forward with force, as an army advancing against an enemy.

   The armored columns thrust deep into enemy territory before dawn.

   The general planned to thrust north along the river once the bridges were secure.

   Similarcharge, rush

   Oppositeretreat

   Note

   Armies and armored columns are the typical subjects, thrusting deep into territory or thrusting at the enemy. The past tense and past participle are usually thrust, unchanged from the present, so we thrust at the enemy can describe today or yesterday; the regular thrusted also occurs.

8. 8
   push past peopleverbintransitive

   To push one's way in, squeezing into a space or between people.

   A reporter thrust between the two senators and shouted a question.

   Latecomers tried to thrust through the crowd at the gate.

   Similarpush, squeeze, shove, elbow

9. 9
   pierceverb

   To pierce or stab, usually by driving something through.

   Similarstab, jab, spear, gore

10. 10
    fencing attacknouncountable

    In fencing, an attack in which the sword is driven forward along its length so that the point lands.

    She parried the thrust and answered with a quick riposte to his shoulder.

    The judges awarded the point because the thrust landed cleanly on the target area.

    Similarlunge

    Note

    Fencers sort attacks by what lands: a thrust lands with the point, a cut with the edge. In foil and épée only the point scores, so every valid touch is a thrust; in saber both count, and a bout can be won without a single thrust.

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