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stroke

1
[strohk]
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noun
  1. the act or an instance of striking, as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; a blow.
  2. a hitting of or upon anything.
  3. a striking of a clapper or hammer, as on a bell.
  4. the sound produced by this.
  5. a throb or pulsation, as of the heart.
  6. 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.
  7. something likened to a blow in its effect, as in causing pain, injury, or death; an attack of apoplexy or paralysis.
  8. a destructive discharge of lightning.
  9. a vigorous movement, as if in dealing a blow.
  10. 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.
  11. a single complete movement, especially one continuously repeated in some process.
  12. Machinery.
    1. one of a series of alternating continuous movements of something back and forth over or through the same line.
    2. the complete movement of a moving part, especially a reciprocating part, in one direction.
    3. the distance traversed in such a movement.
    4. a half revolution of an engine during which the piston travels from one extreme of its range to the other.
  13. Swimming.
    1. a type or method of swimming: The crawl is a rapid stroke.
    2. each of the successive movements of the arms and legs in propelling the body through the water.
  14. Rowing.
    1. a single pull of the oar.
    2. the manner or style of moving the oars.
    3. 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.
  15. a movement of a pen, pencil, brush, graver, or the like.
  16. a mark traced by or as if by one movement of a pen, pencil, brush, or the like.
  17. a distinctive or effective touch in a literary composition: His style revealed the stroke of a master.
  18. a single or minimal act, piece, or amount of work, activity, etc.: to refuse to do a stroke of work.
  19. an attempt to attain some object: a bold stroke for liberty.
  20. a measure adopted for a particular purpose.
  21. a keystroke: no more than 65 strokes to the line for business letters.
  22. a feat or achievement: a stroke of genius.
  23. a sudden or chance happening, as of luck or fortune.
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verb (used with object), stroked, strok·ing.
  1. to mark with a stroke or strokes, as of a pen; cancel, as by a stroke of a pen.
  2. Rowing.
    1. to row as a stroke oar of (a boat or crew).
    2. to set the stroke for the crew of (a boat).
  3. Sports. to hit (a ball), as with a deliberate, smooth swing of a bat or club.
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Origin of stroke

1
1250–1300; Middle English strok, strak (noun), probably continuing Old English *strāc (whence strācian to stroke2); cognate with German Streich; akin to strike

Synonyms for stroke

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1. rap, tap, knock, pat. 5. beat, thump; rhythm.

Synonym study

1, 7. See blow1.

stroke

2
[strohk]
verb (used with object), stroked, strok·ing.
  1. to pass the hand or an instrument over (something or somebody) lightly or with little pressure; rub gently, as in soothing or caressing.
  2. Informal. to promote feelings of self-approval in; flatter.
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noun
  1. an act or instance of stroking; a stroking movement.
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Origin of stroke

2
before 900; Middle English stroken (v.), Old English strācian; cognate with German streichen; akin to strike
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for stroking

rub, caress, brush, fondle, soothe, pet, comfort, smooth, chuck, tickle

Examples from the Web for stroking

Historical Examples of stroking

  • Stroking her thin hand, he said, after a pause, "Did Carry ever write to you?"

    Tales of the Argonauts

    Bret Harte

  • Stroking his long chin whiskers he took a Bible from his pocket.

    On the Seaboard

    August Strindberg

  • Stroking with the stick or a feather is always to be recommended.

  • Stroking the beard before a person spoke was preparatory to favor.

    Folk-lore of Shakespeare

    Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer

  • Stroking Margaret's hair, Jenny looked down at me in my wicker arm-chair.

British Dictionary definitions for stroking

stroke

noun
  1. the act or an instance of striking; a blow, knock, or hit
  2. a sudden action, movement, or occurrencea stroke of luck
  3. a brilliant or inspired act or feata stroke of genius
  4. 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
    1. the striking of a clock
    2. the hour registered by the striking of a clockon the stroke of three
  6. a mark, flourish, or line made by a writing implement
  7. another name for solidus, used esp when dictating or reading aloud
  8. a light touch or caress, as with the fingers
  9. a pulsation, esp of the heart
  10. a single complete movement or one of a series of complete movements
  11. sport the act or manner of striking the ball with a racket, club, bat, etc
  12. any one of the repeated movements used by a swimmer to propel himself through the water
  13. a manner of swimming, esp one of several named styles such as the crawl or butterfly
    1. any one of a series of linear movements of a reciprocating part, such as a piston
    2. the distance travelled by such a part from one end of its movement to the other
  15. a single pull on an oar or oars in rowing
  16. manner or style of rowing
  17. 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
  18. US informal a compliment or comment that enhances a person's self-esteem
  19. (modifier) slang, mainly US pornographic; masturbatorystroke magazines
  20. a stroke or a stroke of work (usually used with a negative) a small amount of work
  21. off one's stroke performing or working less well than usual
  22. on the stroke of punctually at
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verb
  1. (tr) to touch, brush, or caress lightly or gently
  2. (tr) to mark a line or a stroke on or through
  3. to act as the stroke of (a racing shell)
  4. (tr) sport to strike (a ball) with a smooth swinging blow
  5. (tr) US and Canadian informal to handle or influence (someone) with care, using persuasion, flattery, etc
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Word Origin for stroke

Old English strācian; related to Middle Low German strēken; see strike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stroking

stroke

n.

"act of striking," c.1300, probably from Old English *strac, from Proto-Germanic *straikaz (cf. Middle Low German strek, German streich, Gothic striks "stroke"), related to the verb stracian (see stroke (v.)). The meaning "mark of a pen" is from 1560s; that of "a striking of a clock" is from mid-15c. Sense of "feat, achievement" (e.g. stroke of luck, 1853) first found 1670s; the meaning "single pull of an oar or single movement of machinery" is from 1731. Meaning "apoplectic seizure" is from 1590s (originally the Stroke of God's Hand). Swimming sense is from 1800.

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stroke

v.

"pass the hand gently over," Old English stracian, related to strican "pass over lightly," from Proto-Germanic *straikojanan, which is related to the root of strike, from PIE root *streig- (see strigil). Figurative sense of "soothe, flatter" is recorded from 1510s. The noun meaning "a stroking movement of the hand" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Stroked; stroking.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
stroking in Medicine

stroke

(strōk)
n.
  1. A sudden severe attack, as of paralysis or sunstroke.
  2. 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
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
stroking in Science

stroke

[strōk]
  1. 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
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
stroking in Culture

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.

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

Idioms and Phrases with stroking

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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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.