stroke

SaySTROHK/stɹoʊk/UK/stɹəʊk/

55 meanings of stroke

1
a brain attacknouncountable or uncountable
A sudden loss of blood flow to the brain, which can cause brain damage or death.
My grandfather had a stroke last year and now walks with a cane.
Fast treatment can save the life of someone having a stroke.
Note
2
rub gentlyverbtransitive
To gently move your hand or a thing like a brush along something in one direction.
Can I stroke your dog?
She stroked the baby's hair until he fell asleep.
Similarcaress, smooth
Note
3
brush marknounfigurativelycountable
One movement of a pen, brush, chisel or similar tool, or the line or mark it makes.
She painted the sky with a few quick strokes of blue.
Each stroke of his pencil made the drawing look more real.
Similarline, mark
4
swimmingnouncountable
One movement of the arms and legs that moves a swimmer through water, or a way of swimming.
She swam to the rock in about twenty strokes.
My favorite stroke is the butterfly, but it makes me tired fast.
Note
5
featnounfigurativelycountable
A sudden or strong effort that gets something done, or the success that comes from it.
Hiring her was a real stroke of genius.
With one bold stroke, the new coach turned the team around.
Similarfeat, move
6
clock bellnouncountable
One ring of a clock's bell, the sound it makes, or the moment it rings.
The party ended at the stroke of midnight.
The loud stroke of the clock woke the baby.
Similarchime
Note
7
nountransitivecountable
A light touch made by moving your hand or an object along something in one direction.
Give the puppy a gentle stroke, and it will roll over.
The horse calmed down after a few strokes on its neck.
Similarcaress
8
tennisnouncountable
A hit of the ball with a racket, or the swing of arm and racket that makes it.
In tennis, her best stroke is the forehand.
He practiced his strokes against the wall with an old racket.
Similarshot
Note
9
golfnouncountable
One swing at the ball with a golf club, or a shot taken off a score because of a handicap.
She finished the hole in four strokes.
In golf, every stroke counts, even a short putt.
Similarshot
Note
10
win oververbfigurativelyUStransitive
To get someone on your side by persuading them or praising them.
The mayor knows how to stroke local business owners.
She stroked the committee with compliments until they agreed to her plan.
Similarcourt, woo, flatter
Note

11
nouncountable
One hit or blow against someone or something.
The boxer fell after a hard stroke to the chin.
He hit the table with one angry stroke of his fist.
Similarblow, hit, knock
Note
12
engine motionnouncountable
One movement of a part that goes back and forth, like a piston, or how far it moves.
On each stroke, the piston pushes air out of the pump.
This new motor has a longer stroke than the old one.
Note
13
suffer brain attackverbintransitive
To have a sudden loss of brain function because blood stops reaching the brain.
The doctor warned that he could stroke out if his blood pressure stayed so high.
My uncle stroked out at work and was rushed to the hospital.
Note
14
tool blownouncountable
One movement made with a tool, or one hit of a tool against something.
With one stroke of the knife, she cut the rope.
We heard the slow strokes of a saw from the garage.
Similarblow, swing, chop
15
rowingnouncountable
One pull of an oar or paddle through the water, or the way a person rows.
With long, steady strokes, she paddled across the lake.
Dip your paddle deep and finish each stroke next to your hip.
Note
16
slash signnounfigurativelyCommonwealthIrelandUKcountable
The slanting line (/) used in writing, also called a slash.
Write the date with a stroke between the day and the month.
She told me over the phone that her flat number was 12 stroke 3.
Similarslash, oblique
Note
17
letter partnounfigurativelycountable
One of the lines you draw to make a letter or other written sign.
The letter T is made of just two strokes.
Start the letter A with a stroke from the top down to the left.
Note
18
complimentnounfigurativelyUStransitivecountable
Kind or flattering words or acts used to get someone to do what you want.
Her boss's praise was just a stroke to get her to work the weekend.
The salesman gave every customer a few strokes before he showed them the price.
Note
19
cross outverbtransitive
To draw a line through words to show they are no longer wanted. Used with out or through.
Please stroke out your old address and write the new one below it.
The teacher stroked through every wrong answer in red ink.
Similarcross, strike
20
blow (weapon)nouncountable
One hit with a weapon, such as a sword or a stick.
The soldier fell after one stroke of the enemy's sword.
Long ago, students who broke the rules could get strokes of the cane.
Similarblow, cut, slash
Note
21
amount of businessnounfigurativelycountable
An amount of work, especially a lot of business or work.
My brother didn't do a stroke of work all weekend.
The big order from the school was a nice stroke of business for the shop.
22
swim steadilyverbintransitive
To swim by moving your arms and legs so they work together.
The kids stroke hard toward the end of the pool.
She stroked slowly across the lake to the other side.
Similarswim
Note
23
disasternounfigurativelycountable
Something bad that happens, often suddenly, and causes harm.
Losing the big order was a hard stroke for the small shop.
Then came another stroke: the bank closed, and the family lost all its savings.
Similarblow, calamity
24
hit smoothlyverbtransitive
To hit or kick a ball in a smooth, easy way, or to score a point like that.
Watch him stroke the ball into the corner of the goal.
He stroked a short putt into the hole to win the tournament.
Similarhit, strike
Note
25
lightningnouncountable
One single strike of lightning, especially one that damages something.
A stroke of lightning split the old oak tree in two.
The weather station counted thousands of strokes during the storm.
Similarbolt, strike, flash
Note
26
verbfigurativelytransitive
To help someone feel more sure of themselves by encouraging them.
A good friend knows when to stroke you with praise and when to tell you the hard truth.
After her first book got bad reviews, her editor stroked her with warm notes until she started writing again.
Similarencourage, reassure
Note
27
encouragementnounfigurativelytransitivecountable
A kind word or act that supports someone and makes them feel noticed.
A smile from her coach was the stroke she needed before the race.
Little kids need plenty of strokes, like praise and attention.
Note
28
lead rowernouncountable
The rower at the back of the boat who sets the beat for the others, or the seat they sit in.
Our stroke is sick, so Ben will take her place for the race.
Maya has sat in the stroke seat since her second year on the team.
Note
29
clever phrasenounfigurativelycountable
A small, special touch in a piece of writing.
She added a few last strokes to her story before she handed it in.
The little joke at the end of his letter was a clever stroke.
Similartouch
30
cricketnouncountable
In cricket, a hit of the ball with the bat.
Her best stroke sent the ball all the way to the boundary.
The batter played a careful stroke to protect his wicket.
Similarshot
Note
31
noun
In squash, a point you win when the other player gets in your way.
32
noun
One of many pushes against water or air that moves something along.
33
noun
One pulsing beat, such as a heartbeat.
34
noun
One push made with the penis during sex.
35
noun
A harm or death thought to be sent by God as punishment.
36
noun
In Unicode, the name for a line drawn straight across a letter.
37
nounarchaic
Power to make things happen.
Just somebody with a low lottery number, not enough stroke to get in the National Guard, and a distaste for tropical climates.
1993, Dana Stabenow, A Fatal Thaw (A Kate Shugak Mystery)
38
nounarchaic
Power used in secret, out of sight.
39
noun
A bit of attention or praise one person gives another.
40
nounobsolete
The hurt left after being hit, like a bruise.
41
nounobsolete
A desire to eat, mostly in the phrase have a good stroke.
It was said of him that he had a good stroke which simply meant in the everyday idiom of the place that he was possessed of a healthy appetite.
1995, John B[rendan] Keane, “Something Drastic”
42
nounobsolete
A sudden attack of sickness, often one that knocks a person out.
43
nounobsolete
One movement of a bow across strings, one pluck, a way of playing an instrument, or a tune.
Or can he desire a nobler or a fuller Argument either for the softest Aires or the loudest Echoes, for the smoothest or briskest strokes of his Pindaric Lyre?
1667, John Evelyn, “[Epistolary Correspondence.] To Abraham Cowley, Esq.”
44
verb
To draw the line across a t.
45
verbrare
Of a clock or bell, to ring to tell the time.
46
verbrare
To put stripes on something.
47
verb
To row at a set number of pulls each minute.
48
verb
To be the rower who sets the pace for the others.
49
verbobsolete
To make a painting of something.
50
verbrare
To touch yourself sexually for pleasure.
51
verb
To gently rub someone or something until it is in a certain state.
52
verb
To milk an animal, especially by squeezing its teats to get the last drops.
53
verb
To cut thin grooves into stone.
54
verbobsolete
To make a knife sharp by rubbing it on a stone.
55
verbobsolete
To calm someone, or to say nice things to please them.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–6, 8–9, 11–17, 19–25, 28–30

The noun goes back to Old English strāc and Middle English strok, meaning a blow from a weapon. The verb comes from the noun.

Meanings 2, 7, 10, 18, 26–27

This verb comes from Old English strācian, meaning to stroke or gently rub. The noun comes from the verb.