Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb strike_up

2 senses of strike up

Sense 1
sound off, strike up -- (start playing; "The musicians struck up a tune")
       => play -- (play on an instrument; "The band played all night long")

Sense 2
strike up -- (begin; "strike up a conversation"; "strike up a friendship")
       => initiate, pioneer -- (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants")