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¹stroke

transitive verb \ˈstrōk\

strokedstrok·ing

Definition of STROKE

: to rub gently in one direction; also : caress

: to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade

— strok·er noun

Origin of STROKE

Middle English, from Old English strācian; akin to Old High German strīhhan to stroke — more at strike

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with STROKE

bloke, broke, choke, cloak, coke, croak, folk, hoke, joke, moke, oak, poke, Polk, roque, smoke, soak, soke, spoke, stoke, toke, toque, yogh, yoke, yolk

²stroke

noun

medical : a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked

: an act of hitting a ball or the movement made to hit a ball during a game

golf : an act of hitting the ball that is counted as part of a player's score

Full Definition of STROKE

: the act of striking; especially : a blow with a weapon or implement

: a single unbroken movement; especially : one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements

a : a controlled swing intended to hit a ball or shuttlecock; also : a striking of the ball

b : such a stroke charged to a player as a unit of scoring in golf

a : a sudden action or process producing an impact <a stroke of lightning>

b : an unexpected result <a stroke of luck>

: sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain —called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebrovascular accident

a : one of a series of propelling beats or movements against a resisting medium <a stroke of the oar>

b : a rower who sets the pace for a crew

a : a vigorous or energetic effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished <a stroke of genius> <a brilliant diplomatic stroke>

b : a delicate or clever touch in a narrative, description, or construction

: heartbeat

: the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (as a piston) having a reciprocating motion; also : the distance of such movement

: the sound of a bell being struck <at the stroke of twelve>; also : the specific time indicated by or as if by such a sound

[¹stroke] : an act of stroking or caressing

a : a mark or dash made by a single movement of an implement

b : one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet

— at a stroke

: all at once <spent her savings at a stroke>

See stroke defined for English-language learners

Origin of STROKE

Middle English; akin to Old English strīcan to stroke — more at strike

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to STROKE

Synonyms: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, ¹blow, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)

³stroke

verb

strokedstrok·ing

Definition of STROKE

transitive verb

a : to mark with a short line <stroke the t's>

b : to cancel by drawing a line through <stroked out his name>

: to set the stroke for (a rowing crew); also : to set the stroke for the crew of (a rowing boat)

: hit; especially : to propel (a ball) with a controlled swinging blow

intransitive verb

: to execute a stroke

: to row at a certain number of strokes a minute

First Known Use of STROKE

1597

STROKE Defined for Kids

¹stroke

verb \ˈstrōk\

strokedstrok·ing

Definition of STROKE for Kids

: to rub gently in one direction <I stroked the dog's head.>

²stroke

noun

Definition of STROKE for Kids

: the act of striking : blow <the stroke of a whip>

: one of a series of repeated movements (as in swimming or rowing)

: a sudden serious illness caused by the breaking or blocking of an artery in the brain

: the sound of striking (as of a clock or bell) <the stroke of midnight>

: the hitting of a ball in a game (as golf or tennis)

: a sudden or unexpected example <a stroke of luck>

: a single movement or the mark made by a single movement of a brush, pen, or tool

: a sudden action or process that results in something being struck <a stroke of lightning>

: effort by which something is done or the results of such effort <It was a stroke of genius.>

Medical Dictionary

stroke

noun \ˈstrōk\

Medical Definition of STROKE

: sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain—called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident; see hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, little stroke