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:won by two strokes
• the sound made by a striking clock.

• 2an act of moving one’s hand or an object across a surface, applying gentle pressure:massage the cream into your skin using light upward strokes
• a 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.

• 3a movement, especially one of a series, in which something moves out of its position and back into it; a beat: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.
• 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.

• 4a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis.

verb

• 1move one’s hand with gentle pressure over (a surface, especially hair, fur, or skin), typically repeatedly; caress:he put his hand on her hair and stroked it
• 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 Penn’s rowing eight to victory

• 3hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately:Miller calmly stroked three-pointers throughout the tournament
• score (a run or point) by hitting or kicking a ball smoothly:the senior stroked a two-run single