stride
Pronunciation: (strīd), [key] — v., n. strode, strid•den strid•ing,
—v.i. - to walk with long steps, as with vigor, haste, impatience, or arrogance.
- to take a long step: to stride across a puddle.
- to straddle.
—v.t. - to walk with long steps along, on, through, over, etc.: to stride the deck.
- to pass over or across in one long step: to stride a ditch.
- to straddle.
—n. - a striding manner or a striding gait.
- a long step in walking.
- (in animal locomotion) the act of progressive movement completed when all the feet are returned to the same relative position as at the beginning.
- the distance covered by such a movement: He was walking a stride or two ahead of the others.
- a regular or steady course, pace, etc.
- a step forward in development or progress: rapid strides in mastering algebra.
- The quarterback didn't hit his stride until the second half of the game.
- to achieve a regular or steady pace or course.
- to reach the point or level at which one functions most competently and consistently:The quarterback didn't hit his stride until the second half of the game.
- trousers.
- to deal with calmly; cope with successfully: She was able to take her sudden rise to fame in stride.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.