The word strike has several meanings:

1. To hit something deliberately and forcefully. A blacksmith strikes hot metal with a hammer to shape it. Lightning strikes a tree during a storm. A clock strikes noon when its bells ring twelve times. You can strike a match to light it, or strike a pose like a statue.
2. To stop working as a group to demand better conditions. When workers go on strike, they refuse to do their jobs until their employer agrees to changes like higher pay, safer conditions, or fairer treatment. A famous example: in 1911, garment workers in New York went on strike to protest dangerous factory conditions. Strikes have helped establish many workplace protections we take for granted today, like the weekend and the eight-hour workday. Teachers, factory workers, and many other groups have used strikes to improve their situations.
3. To remove or cross out something. A judge might strike testimony from the court record. You might strike an item from your to-do list once you finish it.
4. In baseball, a strike is when a batter misses the ball, doesn't swing at a good pitch, or hits it foul. Three strikes and you're out. The word also appears in bowling, where knocking down all ten pins on your first ball is called a strike.