strip

A long, narrow piece of material or land.

• Cut a strip of paper.
• She tore the cloth into long strips.
• A narrow strip of land separates the lake from the road.

How to use it: a strip of something (Tie a strip of cloth around the handle.)

Similar words: band

Common phrases: strip of paper, narrow strip, strip of land

A road or area along a road with many shops, restaurants, or hotels.

• The strip has several restaurants.
• We drove along the strip looking for a hotel.
• New shops have opened on the busy commercial strip.

Common phrases: shopping strip, commercial strip, along the strip

A performance in which someone removes their clothes to entertain an audience.

• The dancer performed a strip.
• The club advertised a late-night strip show.
• Her strip routine ended when the music stopped.

Similar words: striptease

Common phrases: do a strip, strip show, strip routine

Used before a game's name to mean that losing players must take off clothes.

• They played strip poker.
• In strip chess, losing a piece can mean removing some clothing.
• The party invitation mentioned strip games.

Common phrases: strip poker, strip chess, strip games

To take off your clothes, or remove someone else's clothes.

• He stripped before his shower.
• We stripped off our wet clothes.
• She stripped down to her swimsuit and entered the pool.

How to use it: strip down to something (He stripped down to his underwear before swimming.); strip someone of something (The nurse stripped the child of his wet clothes.)

Similar words: undress

Opposites: dress

Common phrases: strip off, strip naked, strip to underwear

To remove a layer or covering from a surface.

• We need to strip the walls.
• He stripped the bark from the branch.
• Can you strip off the old paint before we start?

How to use it: strip something from/off something (We stripped the old paint from the door.); strip something of something (They stripped the walls of wallpaper.)

Similar words: remove, peel off

Common phrases: strip off paint, strip something away, strip the walls

To take away someone's possessions, rights, position, or honour.

• The thieves stripped the house bare.
• She was stripped of her medal after the investigation.
• The new law could strip citizens of basic rights.

How to use it: strip someone/something of something (The court stripped him of his title.)

Similar words: deprive, rob, divest

Common phrases: strip of power, strip of rights, strip someone bare

To damage or remove the raised lines on a screw, or the teeth on a gear.

• Too much force can strip the thread.
• He stripped the bolt by tightening it too hard.
• The broken part stripped several teeth from the gear.

Common phrases: strip the thread, strip a screw, strip the teeth