Strafe

Quick meaning: Strafe is a verb meaning (transitive, military, aviation) To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.

Meaning

(transitive, military, aviation) To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.

More Meanings

1. (transitive, military, by extension) To rake (a target) with rapid or automatic gunfire.
2. (transitive, military, figurative) To reprimand severely.
3. (intransitive, video games) To sidestep; to move sideways without turning (a core mechanic of most first-person shooters).
4. (World War I) A heavy artillery bombardment.
5. An attack of machine-gun or cannon fire from a low-flying aircraft.
6. (video games) A sideways movement without turning.

Example Sentences

If the NPC is close to the player, he may also try using the tried-and-true Quake circle-strafing technique.

Strafe — Press the Alt key and the left or right Arrow key to slide side to side instead of turning left or right.

They were unfortunate, for a well-aimed shell during a German evening strafe demolished the apple tree and the nest.

We also have added a new game control called the "defensive strafe," in which the user can press a button and stay facing forward.

Word Forms

• strafes
• strafing
• strafed

Synonyms for strafe

Depending on context, synonyms include blast, shell.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include blast, shell, airstrike, drone, beat up, shoot.

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