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.
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.
noun
- 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.
verb thrusts, thrusting or thrust
- (tr) to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strengthshe 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)
noun
- a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
- 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
- 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 drivea man with thrust and energy
- the essential or most forceful partthe thrust of the argument
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.
- The force that propels an object in a given direction, especially when generated by the object itself, as by an engine or rocket.