Stroke | Mean of stroke in English Dictionary

/ˈstroʊk/

• Noun
• a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked
1. He had/suffered a stroke last winter.
2. a stroke patient/victim
• an act of hitting a ball or the movement made to hit a ball during a game
1. She has a strong backhand stroke.
2. a forceful stroke
• an act of hitting the ball that is counted as part of a player's score
1. He is ahead by two strokes.

• one of a series of repeated movements of your arms in swimming or rowing that you make to move yourself or the boat through the water
1. She swims with long, smooth strokes.
2. the stroke of an oar
• a style of swimming
1. She knows the four basic strokes.
• one of a series of repeated movements by something that goes up and down or back and forth
1. The bird soared higher with each stroke of its wings.
2. the stroke of a piston
• an act of hitting someone or something with a stick, whip, etc.
1. a stroke of the whip
• a gentle movement of your hand over or along something
1. She gave the cat a stroke. [=she stroked the cat]
• a single act of moving a pen or brush when it is being used to write or paint
1. He writes with smooth strokes.
2. You can see the strokes of the painter's brush throughout the painting.
3. (figurative) He has the power to end this policy with a (single) stroke of a/the/his pen. [=by signing a law, order, etc., which ends it]
• a line or mark made by a pen or brush
1. A few strokes (of paint) form the basic shape of the horse.
• one of the sounds made by a clock or bell to indicate a particular time
1. the first stroke of the clock at midnight
• an exact time
1. They arrived at the stroke of midnight. [=exactly at midnight]
• a single decisive action
1. She solved all our problems with a single, brilliant/bold stroke.
2. We can resolve this at/by/in/with one stroke.
• something good, lucky, etc., that happens or is thought of suddenly
1. Her idea for the design for the interior was a stroke of inspiration.
2. It was only by a stroke of luck that we found a parking spot.
3. It was a lucky stroke.
4. Deciding to relocate the company was a stroke of genius. [=a brilliant idea]
• a bright flash of lightning
1. a stroke of lightning
• any work at all
1. They haven't done a stroke of work all day.
• to cause someone to hesitate or be confused
1. The last-minute change of plans put me off my stroke.
• Verb
• to move your hand over (someone or something) gently and in one direction
1. She was stroking the cat's fur.
• to move (something) gently in one direction
1. He stroked the pen lightly over the paper.
• to hit or kick (a ball) with a smooth movement
1. She stroked the ball toward the hole.
• to say nice things to (someone) in order to get approval, agreement, etc.
1. You're just stroking me so I'll go along with you.
2. She works with celebrities and spends half her time stroking their egos.