stroke (stroke)

noun

• 1an act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow: he received three strokes of the cane
• a method of striking the ball in sports or games.
• Golf an act of hitting the ball with a club, as a unit of scoring: he won by two strokes
• the sound made by a striking clock: the first stroke would belt out from the clock

• 2a mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush in one direction across paper or canvas: the paint had been applied in careful, regular strokes
• a line forming part of a written or printed character.
• a short printed or written diagonal line typically separating characters or figures.

• 3an act of moving one’s hand across a surface with gentle pressure: massage the cream into your skin using light upward strokes

• 4each of a series of movements in which something moves out of its position and back into it: the ray swam with effortless strokes of its huge wings
• the whole motion of a piston in either direction.
• the rhythm to which a series of repeated movements is performed: the rowers sing to keep their stroke
• a movement of the arms and legs forming one of a series in swimming: I slipped into the water and swam a few strokes
• a particular style of moving the arms and legs in swimming: front crawl is a popular stroke
• (in rowing) the mode or action of moving the oar.
• (also stroke oar) the oar or oarsman nearest the stern of a boat, setting the timing for the other rowers.

• 5a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis: he was left disabled by a stroke [mass noun]: smoking increases the risk of stroke

verb

• 1move one’s hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress: he put his hand on her hair and stroked it
• [with object and adverbial of place] apply (something) to a surface using a gentle movement: she strokes blue eyeshadow on her eyelids
• North American informal reassure or flatter (someone), especially in order to gain their cooperation: production executives were expert at stroking stars and brokering talent

• 2act as the stroke of (a boat or crew): he stroked the coxed four to victory

• 3hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately: Markwick stroked the ball home