stroke

noun

1》 an act of hitting: he received three strokes of the cane.

    ↘Golf an act of hitting the ball with a club, as a unit of scoring.

    ↘a sound made by a striking clock.

2》 a mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush once across paper or canvas.

    ↘a line forming part of a written or printed character.

    ↘a short diagonal line separating characters or figures.

3》 an act of stroking.

4》 one of a series of repeated movements.

    ↘the whole motion of a piston in either direction.

    ↘a style of moving the arms and legs in swimming.

    ↘the mode or action of moving the oar in rowing.

    ↘(also stroke oar) the oarsman nearest the stern, setting the timing for the other rowers.

5》 a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain.

verb

1》 move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface).

2》 N. Amer. informal manipulate by means of flattery or persuasion.

3》 act as the stroke of (a boat or crew).

Phrases

at a (or one) stroke by a single action having immediate effect.

not (or never) do a stroke of work do no work at all.

on the stroke of —— precisely at the specified time.

put someone off their stroke disconcert someone so that they make a mistake or hesitate.

stroke of genius an outstandingly original idea.

stroke of luck (or good luck) a fortunate unexpected occurrence.

Derivatives

strokeable adjective

stroker noun

Origin

OE strācian 'caress lightly', of Gmc origin; related to strike.