What is "strike out"

Out \Out\ (out), n.

1. One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office; -- generally in the plural.

2. A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space; -- chiefly used in the phrase ins and outs; as, the ins and outs of a question. See under In.

3. (Print.) A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission. To make an out (Print.),

   1. to omit something, in setting or correcting type, which was in the copy.

   2. (Baseball) to be put out in one's turn at bat, such as to strike out, to ground out, or to fly out.

vb. (context intransitive often with at English) To lash out; to strike or hit at someone or something, particularly something in arm's length of the striker and at or near the level of the striker's head.

1. v. remove from a list; "Cross the name of the dead person off the list" [syn: cross off, cross out, strike off, mark]

2. put out or be put out by a strikeout; "Oral struck out three batters to close the inning"

3. be unsuccessful in an endeavor; "The candidate struck out with his health care plan"

4. cause to retire; "The pitcher retired three batters"; "the runner was put out at third base" [syn: retire]

5. set out on a course of action; "He struck out on his own"