Strip Meaning
Strip Definition & Usage
To remove the outer covering, layer, or parts of something.
Examples
- "She carefully stripped the wallpaper off the walls to repaint the room."
- "The workers were stripping the old paint from the door before refinishing it."
- "The car had been stripped of all its valuable parts before being abandoned."
- "He stripped the bed, changing the sheets and pillowcases."
- "The old barn had been stripped of its wooden planks, leaving only the frame."
To remove one’s clothes, often down to the bare skin.
Examples
- "He stripped down to his shorts before jumping into the pool."
- "The athletes stripped off their uniforms after the game."
- "She stripped to her underwear, preparing for a bath."
- "They stripped off their wet clothes after the hike in the rain."
- "At the beach, everyone was stripping off their outer layers to sunbathe."
A long, narrow piece of material or object.
Examples
- "The package came with a strip of paper showing instructions."
- "He peeled the strip of tape off the package and opened it."
- "I need a strip of cloth to tie the bundle together."
- "The candy bar came in a small strip of foil packaging."
- "The technician applied a strip of adhesive to the edge of the broken part."
To perform a sensual or provocative dance by gradually removing clothing, typically in a theatrical manner.
Examples
- "She decided to strip at the club to earn extra money."
- "The dancer performed a slow strip on stage, to the delight of the audience."
- "He was embarrassed when the spotlight fell on him during the striptease."
- "The movie included a scene where the protagonist performed a strip in a nightclub."
- "They watched the burlesque show, where the performer stripped down to nothing but feathers and sequins."
Cultural Context
The word 'strip' has a long history, originating from Old French and Middle English, where it initially meant to plunder or rob. Over time, the word expanded to include meanings related to removing coverings or layers. The act of stripping, particularly in the context of undressing, has cultural associations with both the sensual and the practical.
The Stripping of Layers
Story
The Stripping of Layers
In a small town by the coast, the once grand hotel, known for its lavish design and expansive views, had fallen into disrepair. The building had been stripped of its original beauty, layer by layer, as years of neglect left it a shadow of its former self. Sophie, a young architect with a keen eye for restoration, was tasked with bringing it back to life. Her first day on the job, she stood in front of the grand hotel, where workmen were already stripping the old paint from the façade, preparing it for a new coat. As she walked past, Sophie paused, watching the careful process unfold. 'It's all about layers,' she thought. The building itself had layers of history that needed to be uncovered, much like the paint being scraped away. Inside, the rooms had been stripped of their furniture, leaving only empty shells that once held grand celebrations and events. Sophie knew she had a challenge ahead of her, but she was eager to reveal the hotel's hidden potential. Later that day, she returned to her small apartment to unwind. As she relaxed in the bath, Sophie thought about the word 'strip'—how it applied not only to her work but also to her own life. She had stripped away her old life in the city, moving to the coast to start fresh. Now, every time she stepped into the hotel, it was like stripping back the years of neglect and breathing life into a forgotten space. The metaphor of stripping wasn't lost on her. As she returned to the hotel the next morning, her mind buzzed with possibilities. The layers of paint, the broken furniture, even the debris in the yard—all could be transformed with time, care, and effort. And perhaps, in the process, she could strip away some of her own doubts, revealing a version of herself she had almost forgotten existed. The work was long and hard, but over time, Sophie saw the building come alive again. Each layer removed was a step closer to its grand revival. And in that transformation, Sophie too felt herself evolving, shedding her own layers of uncertainty. At the end of the year, the grand hotel stood proudly on the coast once more, a testament to the power of stripping away the old to make room for the new.
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