Translate stroke | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of 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
[with object] 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 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
