strafe
/ˈstɹæɪ̯f/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.07 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To sidestep; to move sideways without turning (a core mechanic of most first-person shooters).
Intransitive verb
noun
noun
An attack of machine-gun or cannon fire from a low-flying aircraft.
Example Sentences
- "These should be especially useful against low-flying planes that "strafe" infantry and transport columns with machine-gun fire and light bombs."
- "Laffey, fresh off from strafing Hiei, ran straight into a quarter of the Japanese navy's remaining destroyers, and, along with Kirishima, between gunfire and another successful Type 93 torpedo strike that tore off the ship's stern, the hapless destroyer was left drifting, ablaze, and would eventually sink."
- "You will get an officer sometimes fu'l of shout and swank, an' 'e 'll put 'em through it, an' strafe 'em, an' walk off parade feelin' that 'e 'as put the fear o' God into 'em."
- "Strafe — Press the Alt key and the left or right Arrow key to slide side to side instead of turning left or right."
- "If the NPC is close to the player, he may also try using the tried-and-true Quake circle-strafing technique."
- "A strafe is a side-to-side camera movement. If you're a fan of first-person shooter games, you know how fundamental strafing can be to a game."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈstɹæɪ̯f/