stroke

[ strohk ]

/ stroʊk /

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See synonyms for: stroke / stroked / strokes / stroking on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act or an instance of striking, as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; a blow.

a hitting of or upon anything.

a striking of a clapper or hammer, as on a bell.

the sound produced by this.

a throb or pulsation, as of the heart.

Also called apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident. Pathology. a blockage or hemorrhage of a blood vessel leading to the brain, causing inadequate oxygen supply and, depending on the extent and location of the abnormality, such symptoms as weakness, paralysis of parts of the body, speech difficulties, and, if severe, loss of consciousness or death.

something likened to a blow in its effect, as in causing pain, injury, or death; an attack of apoplexy or paralysis.

a destructive discharge of lightning.

a vigorous movement, as if in dealing a blow.

Sports. a hitting of a ball, as by the swing of a racquet in tennis or the controlled jabbing or thrusting with the cue in pool and billiards.

a single complete movement, especially one continuously repeated in some process.

Machinery.

one of a series of alternating continuous movements of something back and forth over or through the same line.
the complete movement of a moving part, especially a reciprocating part, in one direction.
the distance traversed in such a movement.
a half revolution of an engine during which the piston travels from one extreme of its range to the other.

Swimming.

a type or method of swimming: The crawl is a rapid stroke.
each of the successive movements of the arms and legs in propelling the body through the water.

Rowing.

a single pull of the oar.
the manner or style of moving the oars.
Also called stroke oar. the crew member nearest to the stern of the boat, to whose strokes those of the other crew members must conform.

a movement of a pen, pencil, brush, graver, or the like.

a mark traced by or as if by one movement of a pen, pencil, brush, or the like.

Chiefly British. virgule.

a distinctive or effective touch in a literary composition: His style revealed the stroke of a master.

a single or minimal act, piece, or amount of work, activity, etc.: to refuse to do a stroke of work.

an attempt to attain some object: a bold stroke for liberty.

a measure adopted for a particular purpose.

a keystroke: no more than 65 strokes to the line for business letters.

a feat or achievement: a stroke of genius.

a sudden or chance happening, as of luck or fortune.

verb (used with object), stroked, strok·ing.

to mark with a stroke or strokes, as of a pen; cancel, as by a stroke of a pen.

Rowing.

to row as a stroke oar of (a boat or crew).
to set the stroke for the crew of (a boat).

Sports. to hit (a ball), as with a deliberate, smooth swing of a bat or club.

SYNONYMS FOR stroke

1 rap, tap, knock, pat.

5 beat, thump; rhythm.

See synonyms for stroke on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stroke

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English strok, strak (noun), probably continuing unattested Old English strÄ?c (whence strÄ?cian â€to stokeâ€; see stroke²); cognate with German Streich; akin to strike

synonym study for stroke

1, 7. See blow¹.

Words nearby stroke

strobotron, strode, Stroessner, stroganoff, Stroheim, stroke, stroke hole, stroke oar, stroke play, stroke volume, stroke work index

Definition for stroke (2 of 2)

stroke²

[ strohk ]

/ stroÊŠk /

verb (used with object), stroked, strokÂ·ing.

to pass the hand or an instrument over (something or somebody) lightly or with little pressure; rub gently, as in soothing or caressing.

Informal. to promote feelings of self-approval in; flatter.

noun

an act or instance of stroking; a stroking movement.

Origin of stroke

before 900; Middle English stroken (v.), Old English strÄ?cian; cognate with German streichen; akin to strike

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Â© Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for stroke

Indeed, scientists have linked khat consumption to increased risk of strokes and heart diseases.
How the Pandemic Is Saving Lives in the Horn of Africa|Eromo Egbejule|September 3, 2020|Ozy
However, you can bring them back to sharpness with just a few strokes along a sharpening stone.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Knife|Wes Siler|September 3, 2020|Outside Online
So they adopted its broad strokesâ€”including its limits on data collection and its requirements on data storage and data deletionâ€”and then loosened some of its language.
Inside Chinaâ€™s unexpected quest to protect data privacy|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
By itself, such a lopsided stroke would lead to swimming in circles.
Human sperm donâ€™t swim the way that anyone had thought|Jack J. Lee|July 31, 2020|Science News

Instead of swimming straight by twirling their tails like propellers, human sperm flick their tails lopsidedly and roll to balance out the off-center strokes.
Human sperm donâ€™t swim the way that anyone had thought|Jack J. Lee|July 31, 2020|Science News
With every stroke, her leather boot creaked under the weight of her leg.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This video remedies that injustice, showcasing an owl doing a butterfly stroke in Lake Michigan.
Swimming Owls, Jane Krakowskiâ€™s Peter Pan Live! Audition, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And finally, when you ask for your car, your dress, whatever it is you want, stroke his hand.
Russiaâ€™s Gold Digger Academy|Peter Pomerantsev|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a stroke, and if his words are genuine, Tim Cook has just become Gay Superman.
Tim Cook: Why â€?Iâ€™m Gayâ€™ Isnâ€™t Enough|Tim Teeman|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a stroke of genius, he enlisted Bundy to vouch for him on tape.
Cliven Bundyâ€™s Brokeback Mountain Moment|Olivia Nuzzi|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I hope the French Government will recognize this dashing stroke of d'Amade's by something more solid than a thank you.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
She did shout for joy, as with a sweeping stroke or two she lifted her body to the surface of the water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Her pulse was beneath his fingers, and with every stroke of it he felt more keenly the mystery and cruelty of life.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
They were afraid that it was too small; they then put another of 14 inches by the side of the first, the same stroke.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
At Wheal Alfred they have a 64-inch cylinder; the air-pump is 20 inches, and the stroke is half that of the engine.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for stroke

stroke

/ (strÉ™ÊŠk) /

noun

the act or an instance of striking; a blow, knock, or hit

a sudden action, movement, or occurrencea stroke of luck

a brilliant or inspired act or feata stroke of genius

pathol apoplexy; rupture of a blood vessel in the brain resulting in loss of consciousness, often followed by paralysis, or embolism or thrombosis affecting a cerebral vessel

the striking of a clock
the hour registered by the striking of a clockon the stroke of three

a mark, flourish, or line made by a writing implement

another name for solidus, used esp when dictating or reading aloud

a light touch or caress, as with the fingers

a pulsation, esp of the heart

a single complete movement or one of a series of complete movements

sport the act or manner of striking the ball with a racket, club, bat, etc

any one of the repeated movements used by a swimmer to propel himself through the water

a manner of swimming, esp one of several named styles such as the crawl or butterfly

any one of a series of linear movements of a reciprocating part, such as a piston
the distance travelled by such a part from one end of its movement to the other

a single pull on an oar or oars in rowing

manner or style of rowing

the oarsman who sits nearest the stern of a shell, facing the cox, and sets the rate of striking for the rest of the crew

US informal a compliment or comment that enhances a person's self-esteem

(modifier) slang, mainly US pornographic; masturbatorystroke magazines

a stroke or a stroke of work (usually used with a negative) a small amount of work

off one's stroke performing or working less well than usual

on the stroke of punctually at

verb

(tr) to touch, brush, or caress lightly or gently

(tr) to mark a line or a stroke on or through

to act as the stroke of (a racing shell)

(tr) sport to strike (a ball) with a smooth swinging blow

(tr) US and Canadian informal to handle or influence (someone) with care, using persuasion, flattery, etc

Word Origin for stroke

Old English strÄ?cian; related to Middle Low German strÄ“ken; see strike

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Â© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Â© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for stroke

stroke

[ strÅk ]

n.

A sudden severe attack, as of paralysis or sunstroke.

A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain, resulting in necrosis of brain tissue and characterized by loss of muscular control, diminution or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of brain damage.cerebral accident cerebral infarction cerebrovascular accident

Scientific definitions for stroke

stroke

[ strÅk ]

A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel of the brain, resulting in necrosis of brain tissue (called a cerebral infarct) and characterized by loss of muscular control, weakening or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of brain damage. Also called cerebrovascular accident

Cultural definitions for stroke

stroke

A sudden loss of brain function caused by an interruption in the supply of blood to the brain. A ruptured blood vessel or cerebral thrombosis may cause the stroke, which can occur in varying degrees of severity from temporary paralysis and slurred speech to permanent brain damage and death.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright Â© 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with stroke

stroke

see at one stroke; no accounting for taste (different strokes for different folks); put one off one's stride (stroke).

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stroke

noun

verb (used with object), stroked, strok·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR stroke

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of stroke

synonym study for stroke

Words nearby stroke

Definition for stroke (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), stroked, strokÂ·ing.

noun

Origin of stroke

Example sentences from the Web for stroke

British Dictionary definitions for stroke

noun

verb

Word Origin for stroke

Medical definitions for stroke

n.

Scientific definitions for stroke

Cultural definitions for stroke

Idioms and Phrases with stroke

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

stroke

noun

verb (used with object), stroked, strok·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR stroke

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of stroke

synonym study for stroke

Words nearby stroke

Definition for stroke (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), stroked, strokÂ·ing.

noun

Origin of stroke

Words related to stroke

Example sentences from the Web for stroke

British Dictionary definitions for stroke

noun

verb

Word Origin for stroke

Medical definitions for stroke

n.

Scientific definitions for stroke

Cultural definitions for stroke

Idioms and Phrases with stroke