# backstroke

Pronunciation: say "BAK-strohk" US /ˈbækˌstɹoʊk/, UK /ˈbækˌstɹəʊk/

## Noun

1. A swimming stroke performed while lying on one's back, rotating both arms through the water to propel the swimmer.
   - Simple: A way of swimming on your back, moving your arms in circles to push yourself along.
   - _He won the 200-meter backstroke at the regional championships._
   - _Coaches often teach the backstroke after swimmers master floating on their backs._
3. A stroke or blow delivered with a backhanded motion, swinging the hand or arm backward.
   - Simple: A hit made with the back of the hand swinging outward.
   - _She sent the ball back over the net with a sharp backstroke._
   - _A single backstroke from the swordsman sent the lantern crashing down._
4. In change ringing, the pull on the tail of the rope that swings the bell through a full circle.
   - Simple: In bell ringing, the pull on the end of the rope that swings the bell all the way around.
   - _Each backstroke sends the bell swinging back to its balance point._
   - _He timed his backstroke carefully to follow the bell ahead of him._

## Verb

2. To swim using the stroke performed lying on one's back, with both arms rotating through the water.
   - Simple: To swim on your back, moving both arms in circles to push yourself along.
   - _Swimmers who backstroke well keep their hips high in the water._
   - _She prefers to backstroke during her morning laps._

## Origin

Formed from "back" plus "stroke."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/backstroke (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).