striking

Everyday

1. Striking means hitting something hard: the ball striking the window. tree →
2. For a clock, striking means ringing the hours: the clock is striking six. tree →
3. Striking also means very easy to notice, eye-catching: a striking red dress. tree →
4. Striking workers are on strike: they stop work to ask for better pay or conditions. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a clock striking the hours: strikes counted; 6 strikes have only 5 gaps, so time = gaps × gap length; a hit or a strike in a game. In science: lightning striking a tree; striking a match. Safety: lightning often strikes tall things, so do not shelter under a lone tree in a storm. Phrases: striking distance, a striking difference, the clock striking, striking a match.

Examples

• The clock is striking 6. tree →
• How many times does a clock strike from 1 to 12? tree →
• The clock takes 10 seconds for striking 6. tree →
• Each striking of the bell lasts 2 seconds. tree →
• Lightning is striking the hills. tree →
• She wore a striking yellow coat. tree →
• There is a striking likeness between the twins. tree →
• He was striking the nail with a hammer. tree →
• The bus drivers are striking for better pay. tree →
• The clocks were striking twelve when John awoke. tree →

Note

Past form of strike: struck. Counts strikes. Trap: 6 strikes have only 5 gaps, so time is gaps × gap length. Trap: a clock that strikes each hour from 1 to 12 strikes 78 times in all.