bestride
/bi'straid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To sit or stand with one leg on each side of something; to straddle. This is the core meaning, describing a physical position where a person's legs are apart, with the object between them.
- To mount or get upon (a horse, bicycle, etc.). This is a specific, common application of the straddling action.
- To extend across; to span. This is a more figurative use, suggesting something large or dominant stretches over an area.
Examples
- Verb:
- The giant statue bestrides the entrance to the harbor. (The statue stands with its legs apart, spanning the entrance.)
- He bestrode his motorcycle and started the engine. (He mounted/sat astride his motorcycle.)
- An ancient oak tree bestrides the stream. (The oak tree's roots or trunk extend across the stream.)
Advanced Usage
- "to bestride something like a colossus": This is a classic literary phrase, often alluding to Shakespeare's , meaning to dominate or tower over a field, era, or situation with immense power or influence.
- For decades, the company bestrode the tech industry like a colossus. (The company dominated the industry completely.)
Variants and Related Words
- Straddle (verb): To sit or stand with legs on either side of. This is a more common, direct synonym for the core physical meaning of "bestride."
- Astride (adverb/preposition): With a leg on each side of. Often used in similar contexts (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Straddle: To sit or stand with legs apart on either side of.
- Mount: To get up on (e.g., a horse, platform).
- Span: To extend across.
Phrasal Verbs
(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms
- To bestride the world/narrow world: To be a dominant, powerful figure on a global or significant scale. This is a dramatic, literary idiom.
- The conqueror sought to bestride the world. (The conqueror sought to dominate the entire world.)
Verb
- get up on the back of
- mount a horse