strafe

verb \ ˈstrāf , especially British ˈsträf \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of strafe

strafed; strafing

: to rake (ground troops, an airfield, etc.) with fire at close range and especially with machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft

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strafe

noun

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strafer

noun

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Examples of strafe in a Sentence

The planes strafed the town.

Recent Examples of strafe from the Web

Spastic seabirds, the puffins, murres and a variety of seagulls challenged the boat, sometimes strafing in disdain when no morsels were cast their way.

— steve meyer, Anchorage Daily News, "Even with one bad eye, Alaska’s Barren Islands are a sight to behold," 13 June 2018
So some growers hire helicopters to strafe their crops, using their blades to push higher, warmer air down to the plants.

— kevin dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "Could a Platoon of Helicopters Have Saved Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms?," 20 Mar. 2017
Puerto Rico’s government faced immediate scrutiny after initially reporting that 16 people had died as a result of the storm, which strafed much of the island on Sept. 20.

— arelis r. hernández and laurie mcginley, BostonGlobe.com, "Harvard study estimates thousands died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria," 30 May 2018
American planes made some efforts to locate and strafe enemy positions, but the weather, for the most part, wouldn't allow it, and the Japanese were too dug in anyway.

— peter porco, Anchorage Daily News, "When Japan invaded Alaska: What you need to know about the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Attu," 15 May 2018
The uncounted Puerto Rico’s government faced immediate scrutiny after initially reporting that 16 people had died as a result of the storm, which strafed much of the island on Sept. 20.

— washington post, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Harvard study estimates thousands died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria," 29 May 2018
Colonel McLachlan was a fighter pilot who strafed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day; a week after the invasion, he was shot down and, though wounded, made his way back through enemy lines to safety.

— New York Times, "Arlington Cemetery, Nearly Full, May Become More Exclusive," 28 May 2018
As Stewart squeezed into the cramped space and reached into the nest, something strafed the human invaders.

— nanette asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, "For baby raptors, cuddly names may not fly — UC seeks suggestions," 24 May 2018
The birds will move around the trunk drilling holes that make the trunk look like it’s been strafed by a machine gun.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "Oak trees bring majesty to the landscape, but they do have their difficulties | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strafe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of strafe

German Gott strafe England may God punish England, German propaganda slogan during World War I

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First Known Use: 1915

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STRAFE Defined for English Language Learners

strafe

verb

Definition of strafe for English Language Learners

: to attack (something) with machine guns from low-flying airplanes

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Definition of strafe

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