Definition

1. Noun:

   • A single complete movement: A stroke is one complete motion, especially of a limb or tool.
   • A mark made by a writing or painting tool: A stroke is a single mark or line made by a pen, brush, or similar implement.
   • A sudden medical event affecting the brain: A stroke is a serious illness caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain, leading to a loss of function.
   • An act of hitting a ball in sports: In games like golf or tennis, a stroke is a single act of swinging and hitting the ball.
   • A single pull of an oar in rowing: A stroke is one complete movement of an oar through the water.
   • A sudden, unexpected event or instance: A stroke can refer to a sudden occurrence, often of luck or misfortune.
   • A gentle touch with the hand: A stroke is a gentle, caressing movement of the hand.

2. Verb:

   • To move one's hand gently over a surface: To stroke means to move your hand softly over something.
   • To hit or propel a ball smoothly in sports: In sports, to stroke the ball is to hit it with a smooth, controlled swing.
   • To act as the rower who sets the pace: In rowing, to stroke means to be the rower nearest the stern who sets the rhythm for the crew.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He painted the wall with broad, even strokes. (He used wide, smooth movements of the brush.)
  • She suffered a stroke last year but is recovering well. (She had a serious brain illness.)
  • It took him three strokes to get the golf ball into the hole. (He needed three hits with the club.)
  • Winning the prize was a lucky stroke. (Winning was a sudden piece of good luck.)
  • The cat purred at every stroke of its fur. (The cat enjoyed each gentle touch.)

• Verb:

  • She likes to stroke her dog's ears. (She gently touches her dog's ears.)
  • He stroked the ball perfectly past the defender. (He hit the ball smoothly past the other player.)
  • As the team captain, she strokes the boat. (She is the rower who sets the pace for the boat.)

Advanced Usage

• "A stroke of genius": A very clever and original idea.
  • His solution to the problem was a stroke of genius.
• "At a stroke" / "In one stroke": With a single immediate action.
  • The new law solved several problems at a stroke.
• "To stroke someone's ego": To praise someone excessively to make them feel important.
  • He's always stroking the boss's ego.
• "To not do a stroke of work": To do no work at all.
  • He sat there all morning and didn't do a stroke of work.

Variants and Related Words

• Stroke play (n): A scoring system in golf where the total number of strokes is counted.
• Stroke order (n): The prescribed sequence for writing the strokes of a character, especially in East Asian scripts.
• Stroking (n/gerund): The action of moving the hand gently over something.
• Stroke victim (n): A person who has suffered a brain stroke.

Synonyms

• Noun: Blow, hit, movement, line, mark, apoplexy (medical), CVA (medical), caress, touch.
• Verb: Caress, fondle, pet, swipe, hit, row.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stroke out (informal): To suffer a stroke (medical).
  • I heard he stroked out last week and is in the hospital.
• Stroke down (archaic): To calm or pacify someone.
  • He tried to stroke down the angry customer.

Related Idioms

• "On the stroke of [time]": Exactly at a specified time.
  • The meeting will begin on the stroke of nine.
• "Put someone off their stroke": To disturb or distract someone, causing them to perform poorly.
  • The loud noise from the crowd put the tennis player off her stroke.
• "A different stroke for different folks" (Proverb, often shortened to "Different strokes"): Different people like different things; everyone has their own preferences.
  • I don't understand why he likes that music, but different strokes for different folks.

Noun

1. a single complete movement
2. any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing
3. a mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush
   • she applied the paint in careful strokes
4. a punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information
5. anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
   • winning the lottery was a happy accident
   • the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck
   • it was due to an accident or fortuity
6. the oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew
7. (golf) the unit of scoring in golf is the act of hitting the ball with a club
   • Nicklaus won by three strokes
8. a light touch with the hands
9. a light touch
10. a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
11. the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
12. (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
    • it took two strokes to get out of the bunker
    • a good shot requires good balance and tempo
    • he left me an almost impossible shot

Verb

1. treat gingerly or carefully
   • You have to stroke the boss
2. row at a particular rate
3. strike a ball with a smooth blow
4. touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
   • He stroked his long beard