Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense thrusts, present participle thrusting, past tense, past participle thrust
1. verb
If you thrust something or someone somewhere, you push or move them there quickly with a lot of force.
They thrust him into the back of a jeep. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
She grabs a stack of baby photos and thrusts them into my hands. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: push, force, shove, drive More Synonyms of thrust
Thrust is also a noun.
Two of the knife thrusts were fatal.
2. verb
If you thrust your way somewhere, you move there, pushing between people or things which are in your way.
She thrust her way into the crowd. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
He reached the garden gate and thrust his way through it. [VERBway preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: shove, push, shoulder, lunge More Synonyms of thrust
3. verb
If something thrusts up or out of something else, it sticks up or sticks out in a noticeable way.
[literary]
An aerial thrust up from the grass verge. [VERB adverb/preposition]
A ray of sunlight thrust out through the clouds. [VERB adverb/preposition]
4. uncountable noun
Thrust is the power or force that is required to make a vehicle move in a particular direction.
It provides the thrust that makes the craft move forward.
Synonyms: momentum, impetus, drive, motive power More Synonyms of thrust
5. singular noun [adjective NOUN]
The thrust of an activity or of an idea is the main or essential things it expresses.
The real thrust of the film is its examination of New York's Hasidic community.
The main thrust of the research will be the study of the early Universe and galaxyformation. [+ of]
The conductor brought home the full thrust of the work's emotional resolution.
Synonyms: gist, meaning, idea, point More Synonyms of thrust
6. cut and thrust
Phrasal verbs:
See thrust upon
More Synonyms of thrust
thrust in British English
(θrʌst)
verbWord forms: thrusts, thrusting or thrust
1. (transitive)
to push (someone or something) with force or sudden strength
she thrust him away
she thrust it into the fire
2. (transitive)
to force or impose upon (someone) or into (some condition or situation)
they thrust extra responsibilities upon her
she was thrust into the limelight
3. (transitive; foll bythrough)
to pierce; stab
4. (intr; usually foll by through or into)
to force a passage or entrance
5. (intransitive)
to push forwards, upwards, or outwards
6. (intransitive; foll byat)
to make a stab or lunge at (a person or thing)
noun
7.
a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
8.
a force, esp one that produces motion
9.
a.
a propulsive force produced by the fluid pressure or the change of momentum of the fluid in a jet engine, rocket engine, etc
b.
a similar force produced by a propeller
10.
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
11. geology
a.
the compressive force in the earth's crust that produces recumbent folds and thrust or reverse faults
b. thrust fault
12. 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
13.
force, impetus, or drive
someone with thrust and energy
14.
the essential or most forceful part
the thrust of the argument
Word origin
C12: from Old Norse thrysta; related to Latin trūdere; see intrude
thrust in American English
(θrʌst)
verb transitiveWord forms: thrust or ˈthrusting
1.
to push with sudden force; shove; drive
2.
to pierce; stab
3.
to force or impose (oneself or another) upon someone else or into some position orsituation
4.
to interject or interpose (a remark, question, etc.)
5.
to extend, as in growth
the tree thrusts its branches high
verb intransitive
6.
to push or shove against something
7.
to make a thrust, stab, or lunge, as with a sword
8.
to force one's way (into, through, etc.)
9.
to extend, as in growth
noun
10.
the act of thrusting
; specif.,
a.
a sudden, forceful push or shove
b.
a lunge or stab, as with a sword
c.
any sudden attack
11.
continuous pressure of one part against another, as of a rafter against a wall
12.
a.
the driving force of a propeller in the line of its shaft
b.
the forward force produced in reaction to the gases escaping rearward from a jet or rocket engine
13.
a.
forward movement; impetus
the thrust of machine technology
b.
energy; drive
14. US
the basic meaning or purpose; point; force
the thrust of a speech
15. Geology
an almost horizontal fault in which the hanging wall seems to have been pushed upward in relation to the footwall
: in full thrust fault
Word origin
ME thrusten, thristen < ON thrysta < IE *treud-, to squeeze, push > threat, L trudere
thrust in Mechanical Engineering
(θrʌst)
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Mechanics and dynamics)
Thrust is pressure that is exerted continuously by one object against another, especially the axial force by or on a shaft.
An airplane generates thrust when air is pushed in the direction opposite to flight.
Thrust is generated along the shaft axis in helical gears, which has to be counteractedwith special bearings.
Thrust is pressure that is exerted continuously by one object against another, especiallythe axial force by or on a shaft.
thrust bearing
More idioms containing
thrust
the cut and thrust
Examples of 'thrust' in a sentence
thrust
He lost the thrust in the engines.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England will be thrust straight on to a competitive footing.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We've lost thrust in both engines.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Simply watching the string players' bowing arms thrusting away made me smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A smaller organisation with about 27,000 members, thrust into the limelight for its work representing steel workers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Was your life style sheltered or were you constantly thrust into the limelight?
Mansfield, Patricia Why Am I Afraid to be Assertive? (1994)
The real thrust of this book is a call for a change in the drug laws.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Swing weight between legs up to head height using power thrusts from the hip.
The Sun (2012)
Some control will be lost and thrust but extra snap is added.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rest were sore cut in their heads and thrust in the back.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
The performance actually occurs on a raised stage thrusting out from one end of the space.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This led to a lack of thrust from the engines and both sets of landing gear.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Officers said a large knife had been thrust into the man before he was dismembered.
The Sun (2009)
He was thrusting going forward and deserved his goal.
The Sun (2008)
It is difficult for young men as they get thrust in the limelight.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Here the lines often have a real swing and thrust.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Each character draws sympathy and thrusts it away.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Now he was to be thrust into one of the most physically exhausting jobs in government.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He lost the thrust in the engines.
The Sun (2009)
But it was her romance with the married footballer which last year thrust her back into the spotlight.
The Sun (2012)
With no indication of how fast the plane is flying the pilot risks applying too much jet thrust or too little.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Keep your arms straight then swing the weight between your legs up to head heightusing power thrusts from the hip.
The Sun (2012)
At the end of it, he will be thrust into a glaring spotlight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If they applied extra thrust it could have tipped the plane out of control, tearing it apart in the turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You can just see the mental process by which they work out how many squat thrusts it will take to work off each pillow of dough.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
thrust
British English: thrust VERB
If you thrust something or someone somewhere, you push or move them there quickly with a lot of force.
They thrust him into the back of a jeep.
American English: thrust
Brazilian Portuguese: empurrar
Chinese: 猛推
European Spanish: empujar
French: pousser brusquementN
German: stoßen
Italian: spingere con forza
Japanese: 押しつける
Korean: 밀치다
European Portuguese: empurrar
Latin American Spanish: empujar
All related terms of 'thrust'
veney
a thrust
stop thrust
to cease from doing or being (something); discontinue
thrust upon
If something is thrust upon you, you are forced to have it, deal with it, or experience it.
squat thrust
an exercise in which the hands are kept on the floor with the arms held straight while the legs are straightened out behind and quickly drawn in towards the body again
thrust fault
a fault in which the rocks on the upper side of an inclined fault plane have been displaced upwards , usually by compression ; a reverse fault
thrust stage
a stage consisting of a raised platform extending from one end of a theater or from the proscenium , with audience seating on three sides
thrust bearing
a low-friction bearing on a rotating shaft that resists axial thrust in the shaft. Usually it consists of a collar which bears against a ring of well-lubricated stationary and sometimes tilting pads
abdominal thrust
a technique in first aid to dislodge a foreign body in a person's windpipe by applying sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen
cut and thrust
If you talk about the cut and thrust of an activity, you are talking about the aspects of it that make it exciting and challenging .
the cut and thrust
the aspects of a particular activity or society that make it exciting and challenging
fold-and-thrust belt
a linear or arcuate region of the earth's surface that has been subjected to severe folding and thrust faulting
stop
If you have been doing something and then you stop doing it, you no longer do it.
Chinese translation of 'thrust'
thrust
(θrʌst)
Word forms:ptppthrust
n
(u) (Tech) 推力 (tuīlì)
(c) (= push) 猛推 (měngtuī)
(s) (= impetus) 要点(點) (yàodiǎn)
vt
[person, object]猛推 (měngtuī)
[hand, sword]戳 (chuō)
1 (verb)
Definition
to push (someone or something) with force
They thrust him into the back of a jeep.
Synonyms
push
They pushed him into the car.
force
The extra weight of the crash helmet forced my head backwards.
shove
drive
I used the sledgehammer to drive the pegs in.
press
He pressed his back against the door.
plunge
A soldier plunged a bayonet into his body.
jam
He jammed his hands into his pockets.
butt
The male butted me.
ram
He rammed the key into the lock and kicked the front door open.
poke
Lindy poked him in the ribs.
propel
The rocket is designed to propel the spacecraft.
prod
He prodded Murray with the broom.
impel
I felt impelled to go on speaking.
2 (verb)
Definition
to force (one's way) through a crowd, forest, etc.
She thrust her way into the crowd.
Synonyms
shove
He shoved her out of the way.
push
I pushed through the crowds and on to the escalator.
shoulder
He shouldered past her and opened the door.
lunge
I lunged forward to try to hit him.
jostle
We spent an hour jostling with the crowds as we did our shopping.
elbow or shoulder your way
3 (verb)
Definition
to push (someone or something) with force
I thrust the needle into the coarse fabric.
Synonyms
stab
Somebody stabbed him in the stomach.
stick
They stuck a needle in my back.
The knife stuck in his chest.
jab
The needle was jabbed into my arm by a nurse.
pierce
Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
1 (noun)
Definition
a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
Two of the knife thrusts were fatal.
Synonyms
stab
pierce
lunge
The cat lunged at the nearby bird.
2 (noun)
Definition
a forceful drive, push, stab, or lunge
a thrust of his hand that sent the lad reeling
Synonyms
push
He gave me a sharp push.
shove
She gave Gracie a shove in the back.
poke
John smiled and gave Rashid a playful poke.
prod
He gave the donkey a prod in the backside.
3 (noun)
Definition
a force, esp. one that produces motion
It provides the thrust that makes the craft move forward.
Synonyms
momentum
This campaign is really gaining momentum.
impetus
This decision will give renewed impetus to economic regeneration.
drive
motive power
motive force
propulsive force
4 (noun)
Definition
the essential or most forceful part
The main thrust of the film is its examination of religious values.
Synonyms
gist
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
meaning
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
idea
point
You have missed the main point of my argument.
force
sense
a noun which has two senses
import
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
substance
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.
drift
She was beginning to get his drift.
essence
Some claim that Ireland's very essence is expressed through its language.
marrow
the very marrow of his being
nub
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
pith
5 (noun)
a thrust into territory seized by enemy forces
Synonyms
attack
a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets
drive
charge
He led the cavalry charge from the front.
push (informal)
All that was needed was one final push, and the enemy would be vanquished once and for all.
assault
The rebels are poised for a new assault.
raid
The rebels attempted a surprise raid on a military camp.
invasion
seven years after the Roman invasion of Britain
offensive
The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.
sally
onslaught
a military onslaught against the rebels
foray
She made her first forays into politics.
sortie
incursion
armed incursions into border areas by rebel forces
military advance
phrasal verb
See thrust something upon someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assault
Definition
a violent attack, either physical or verbal
The rebels are poised for a new assault.
Synonyms
attack,
campaign,
strike,
rush,
storm,
storming,
raid,
invasion,
charge,
offensive,
onset,
onslaught,
foray,
incursion,
act of aggression,
inroad
in the sense of butt
Definition
to strike (something or someone) with the head or horns
The male butted me.
Synonyms
knock,
push,
bump,
punch,
buck,
thrust,
ram,
shove,
poke,
buffet,
prod,
jab,
bunt
in the sense of charge
Definition
an onrush or attack
He led the cavalry charge from the front.
Synonyms
attack,
rush,
assault,
onset,
onslaught,
stampede,
sortie
Synonyms of 'thrust'
thrust
Explore 'thrust' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drift
Definition
the main point of an argument or speech
She was beginning to get his drift.
Synonyms
meaning,
point,
gist,
aim,
direction,
object,
import,
intention,
implication,
tendency,
significance,
thrust,
tenor,
purport
in the sense of drive
Definition
to push or propel
I used the sledgehammer to drive the pegs in.
Synonyms
thrust,
push,
sink,
send,
dig,
hammer,
plunge,
stab,
ram
in the sense of essence
Definition
the most important and distinctive feature of something, which determines its identity
Some claim that Ireland's very essence is expressed through its language.
Synonyms
fundamental nature,
nature,
being,
life,
meaning,
heart,
spirit,
principle,
soul,
core,
substance,
significance,
entity,
bottom line,
essential part,
kernel,
crux,
lifeblood,
pith,
quintessence,
basic characteristic,
quiddity
in the sense of foray
Definition
a short raid or incursion
She made her first forays into politics.
Synonyms
raid,
sally,
incursion,
inroad,
attack,
assault,
invasion,
swoop,
reconnaissance,
sortie,
irruption
in the sense of force
Definition
to propel or drive despite resistance
The extra weight of the crash helmet forced my head backwards.
Synonyms
push,
thrust,
propel
in the sense of impel
Definition
to urge or force (a person) to do something
I felt impelled to go on speaking.
Synonyms
force,
move,
compel,
drive,
require,
push,
influence,
urge,
inspire,
prompt,
spur,
stimulate,
motivate,
oblige,
induce,
prod,
constrain,
incite,
instigate,
goad,
actuate
in the sense of impetus
Definition
the force that starts a body moving or that tends to resist changes in its speed or direction once it is moving
This decision will give renewed impetus to economic regeneration.
Synonyms
force,
power,
energy,
momentum
in the sense of import
Definition
meaning
I have already spoken about the import of his speech.
Synonyms
meaning,
implication,
significance,
sense,
message,
bearing,
intention,
explanation,
substance,
drift,
interpretation,
thrust,
purport,
upshot,
gist,
signification
in the sense of incursion
Definition
an inroad or encroachment
armed incursions into border areas by rebel forces
Synonyms
foray,
raid,
invasion,
penetration,
infiltration,
inroad,
irruption
in the sense of invasion
Definition
the act of invading with armed forces
seven years after the Roman invasion of Britain
Synonyms
attack,
assault,
capture,
takeover,
raid,
offensive,
occupation,
conquering,
seizure,
onslaught,
foray,
appropriation,
sortie,
annexation,
incursion,
expropriation (formal),
inroad,
irruption,
arrogation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of jab
Definition
to poke sharply
The needle was jabbed into my arm by a nurse.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
punch,
thrust,
tap,
stab,
nudge,
prod,
lunge
in the sense of jam
Definition
to wedge (an object) into a tight space or against another object
He jammed his hands into his pockets.
Synonyms
pack,
force,
press,
stuff,
squeeze,
compact,
ram,
wedge,
cram,
compress
in the sense of jostle
Definition
to bump or push roughly
We spent an hour jostling with the crowds as we did our shopping.
Synonyms
push,
press,
crowd (informal),
shake,
squeeze,
thrust,
butt,
elbow,
bump,
scramble,
shove,
jog,
jolt,
throng,
hustle,
joggle
in the sense of lunge
Definition
to move with a lunge
I lunged forward to try to hit him.
Synonyms
pounce,
charge,
bound,
dive,
leap,
plunge,
dash,
thrust,
poke,
jab
in the sense of lunge
Definition
a sudden forward motion
The cat lunged at the nearby bird.
Synonyms
thrust,
charge,
pounce,
pass,
spring,
swing,
jab,
swipe (informal)
in the sense of marrow
the very marrow of his being
Synonyms
core,
heart,
spirit,
quick,
soul,
cream,
substance,
essence,
kernel,
gist,
pith,
quintessence
in the sense of meaning
Definition
the sense or significance of a word, sentence, or symbol
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
Synonyms
significance,
message,
explanation,
substance,
value,
import,
implication,
drift,
interpretation,
essence,
purport,
connotation,
upshot,
gist,
signification
in the sense of nub
Definition
the point or gist
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
Synonyms
gist,
point,
heart,
core,
essence,
nucleus,
kernel,
crux,
pith
in the sense of offensive
Definition
an attack or hostile action
The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.
Synonyms
attack,
charge,
campaign,
strike,
push (informal),
rush,
assault,
raid,
drive,
invasion,
onslaught,
foray,
incursion
in the sense of onslaught
Definition
a violent attack
a military onslaught against the rebels
Synonyms
attack,
charge,
campaign,
strike,
rush,
assault,
raid,
invasion,
offensive,
blitz,
onset,
foray,
incursion,
onrush,
inroad
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pierce
Definition
to make a hole in (something) with a sharp point
Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
Synonyms
penetrate,
stab,
spike,
enter,
bore,
probe,
drill,
run through,
lance,
puncture,
prick,
transfix,
stick into,
perforate,
impale
in the sense of plunge
Definition
to thrust or throw (something or oneself) forcibly or suddenly
A soldier plunged a bayonet into his body.
Synonyms
stab,
push,
stick,
sink,
thrust,
jab
in the sense of point
Definition
the essential idea in an argument or discussion
You have missed the main point of my argument.
Synonyms
essence,
meaning,
subject,
question,
matter,
heart,
theme,
import,
text,
core,
burden,
drift,
thrust,
proposition,
marrow,
crux,
gist,
main idea,
nub,
pith
in the sense of poke
Definition
to jab or prod with an elbow, finger, etc.
Lindy poked him in the ribs.
Synonyms
jab,
hit,
push,
stick,
dig,
punch,
stab,
thrust,
butt,
elbow,
shove,
nudge,
prod
in the sense of poke
Definition
a jab or prod
John smiled and gave Rashid a playful poke.
Synonyms
jab,
hit,
dig,
punch,
thrust,
butt,
nudge,
prod
in the sense of press
Definition
to crowd
He pressed his back against the door.
Synonyms
push,
squeeze,
jam,
thrust,
ram,
wedge,
shove
in the sense of prod
Definition
to poke with a pointed object
He prodded Murray with the broom.
Synonyms
poke,
push,
dig,
shove,
propel,
nudge,
jab,
prick
in the sense of prod
Definition
the act of prodding
He gave the donkey a prod in the backside.
Synonyms
poke,
push,
boost,
dig,
elbow,
shove,
nudge,
jab
in the sense of propel
Definition
to cause to move forwards
The rocket is designed to propel the spacecraft.
Synonyms
drive,
launch,
start,
force,
send,
shoot,
push,
thrust,
shove,
set in motion
in the sense of raid
Definition
a sudden surprise attack
The rebels attempted a surprise raid on a military camp.
Synonyms
attack,
invasion,
seizure,
onset,
foray,
sortie,
incursion,
surprise attack,
hit-and-run attack,
sally,
inroad,
irruption
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ram
Definition
to stuff or cram
He rammed the key into the lock and kicked the front door open.
Synonyms
cram,
pound,
force,
stuff,
pack,
hammer (informal),
jam,
thrust,
tamp
in the sense of sense
Definition
specific meaning
a noun which has two senses
Synonyms
meaning,
definition,
interpretation,
significance,
message,
import,
substance,
implication,
drift,
purport,
nuance,
gist,
signification,
denotation
in the sense of shoulder
Definition
to push with one's shoulder
He shouldered past her and opened the door.
Synonyms
push,
thrust,
elbow,
shove,
jostle,
press
in the sense of stick
Definition
to push (a pointed object) or (of a pointed object) to be pushed into another object
They stuck a needle in my back.The knife stuck in his chest.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
stab,
insert,
thrust,
pierce,
penetrate,
spear,
prod,
jab,
transfix
in the sense of substance
Definition
the essential meaning of a speech, thought, or written article
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.