strafe
verb
ˈstrāf 
especially British ˈsträf
strafed; strafing
transitive verb
: to rake (ground troops, an airfield, etc.) with fire at close range and especially with machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft
strafe noun
strafer noun
Example Sentences
The planes strafed the town.
Recent Examples on the Web Apache attack helicopters strafe militant positions. 
Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2022 Among the best of these is a raid on a Chinese troop train by American aircraft and a heart-stopping sequence in which U.S. pilots strafe a screed field, unaware that Chinese soldiers are playing dead below. Richard Kuipers, Variety, 27 Dec. 2021 Then strut out down the center of a city street as spotlights strafe the sky. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2021 The movie suggests that the meek will not only inherit the Earth but also will strafe, slice, bomb and hack their way to it, all for the adoration of their wives and once-sullen kids. Mark Kennedy, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2021 The raptors will sometimes strafe ducks on the water, then focus on any that didn't fly off, and that duck usually becomes the eagle's next meal. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 23 Feb. 2021 Officials urged residents not to let their guard down as the storm gained strength before landfall and stood to barrage the coast with life-threatening storm surge and strafe the region with dangerous winds. New York Times, 28 Oct. 2020 Parents race to save a boy, who will figure prominently later in the series, as airplanes strafe the streets with gunfire. Bill Goodykoontz, azcentral, 19 June 2020 The bullets strafed the living room, missing the woman who was in the back of the home. Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 6 Apr. 2020 See More
Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2022 Among the best of these is a raid on a Chinese troop train by American aircraft and a heart-stopping sequence in which U.S. pilots strafe a screed field, unaware that Chinese soldiers are playing dead below. Richard Kuipers, Variety, 27 Dec. 2021 Then strut out down the center of a city street as spotlights strafe the sky. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2021 The movie suggests that the meek will not only inherit the Earth but also will strafe, slice, bomb and hack their way to it, all for the adoration of their wives and once-sullen kids. Mark Kennedy, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2021 The raptors will sometimes strafe ducks on the water, then focus on any that didn't fly off, and that duck usually becomes the eagle's next meal. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 23 Feb. 2021 Officials urged residents not to let their guard down as the storm gained strength before landfall and stood to barrage the coast with life-threatening storm surge and strafe the region with dangerous winds. New York Times, 28 Oct. 2020 Parents race to save a boy, who will figure prominently later in the series, as airplanes strafe the streets with gunfire. Bill Goodykoontz, azcentral, 19 June 2020 The bullets strafed the living room, missing the woman who was in the back of the home. Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, 6 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
German Gott strafe England may God punish England, German propaganda slogan during World War I
First Known Use
1915, in the meaning defined above
strafe
verb
as in to rake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rake
- attack
- hit
- assault
- enfilade
- assail
- bomb
- blitz
- ravage
- bombard
- shell
- blitzkrieg
- strike
- devastate
- cannonade
- batter
- pound