first strike

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === first strike (plural first strikes) (military) An attack (typically nuclear) launched without warning in the absence of a prior attack by one's opponent, with the intention of destroying one's opponent's ability to retaliate. Hypernyms: strike, attack Coordinate terms: preemptive strike, counterstrike Near-synonym: decapitation strike (criminal law) A first offense by a lawbreaker, as counted by a three-strikes law. (numismatics) One of the first few coins struck from a new set of dies. ==== Related terms ==== second strike ==== See also ==== (military):