This is the 15131st most frequent German word.
streiken
"Streiken" means "to go on strike."
Here, 'streiken' is used as a verb in a sentence that indicates the workers are on strike, a labor protest action.
Die Arbeiter streiken für bessere Bedingungen.
The workers are striking for better conditions.
In this context, 'streiken' metaphorically describes the malfunctioning or ceasing to work of a machine.
Manchmal streiken Maschinen unter hoher Belastung.
Sometimes machines fail under high stress.
Used here, 'streiken' acts as a nominalized verb ('das Streiken') referring to the act or concept of striking in a societal or legal sense.