stride / strīd/ • v. (past strode / strōd/ ; past part. strid·den / ˈstridn/ ) 1. [intr.] walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction: he strode across the road | fig. striding confidently toward the future. ∎  [tr.] walk about or along (a street or other place) in this way: a woman striding the cobbled streets.2. [intr.] (stride across/over) cross (an obstacle) with one long step: by giving a little leap she could stride across like a grown-up. ∎  [tr.] poetic/lit. bestride: new wealth enabled Britain to stride the world once more.• n. 1. a long, decisive step: he crossed the room in a couple of strides. ∎  [in sing.] the length of a step or manner of taking steps in walking or running: the horse shortened its stride he followed her with an easy stride.2. (usu. strides) a step or stage in progress toward an aim: great strides have been made toward equality. ∎  (one's stride) a good or regular rate of progress, esp. after a slow or hesitant start: after months of ineffective campaigning, he seems to have hit his stride.3. [as adj.] denoting or relating to a rhythmic style of jazz piano playing in which the left hand alternately plays single bass notes on the downbeat and chords an octave higher on the upbeat: a stride pianist.PHRASES: break (one's) stride slow or interrupt the pace at which one walks or moves.match someone stride for stride manage to keep up with a competitor.take something in (one's) stride deal with something difficult or unpleasant in a calm and accepting way: we took each new disease in stride.DERIVATIVES: strid·er n.

stride pt. strode, strided, pp. stridden †straddle OE.; walk with long steps XII. OE. str. vb. strīdan = (M)LG. strīden set the legs wide apart; formally corr. to a set of str. and wk. vbs. meaning ‘strive, quarrel’, viz. (M)LG., (M)Du. strīden, OHG. strītan (G. streiten), and OS. strīdian, ON. stríða, with rel. sbs.
Hence sb. XIII.

stride See dope vector.