This is the 775th most frequent Dutch word.
slaan
"To hit" or "to strike."
Here, 'slaan' means to hit or strike something physically, which is indicated by the action of hitting the ball with the stick.
Hij slaat de bal met een stok.
He hits the ball with a stick.
In this sentence, 'slaan' refers to the action of the clock striking the hour, signifying the sound made or the time announcement.
De klok slaat twaalf uur.
The clock strikes twelve o’clock.
Here, 'slaan' is used in the context of turning over pages in a book, illustrating its metaphorical or contextual use depending on the situation.