Search results for 'stroke':

stroke noun 1 a any act or way of striking; b a blow. 2 sport a an act of striking a ball • took six strokes at the par four; b the way a ball is struck • a well-timed ground stroke. See also stroke play. 3 a a single movement with a pen, paintbrush, etc, or the line or daub produced; b in compounds • downstroke. 4 a a single complete movement in a repeated series, as in swimming or rowing; b the member of a rowing crew who sits at the other end from the cox and who sets the timing for the rowers; c usually in compounds a particular named style of swimming • backstroke • breaststroke. 5 the total linear distance travelled by a piston in the cylinder of an engine. 6 a the action of a clock, etc striking, or the sound of this; b the time indicated or which would be indicated by a clock striking • out the door on the stroke of five. 7 a gentle caress or other touching movement, eg when patting a dog, etc. 8 a sloping line used to separate alternatives in writing or print. Also called solidus. 9 pathol a sudden interruption to the supply of blood to the brain that results in loss of consciousness, often with accompanying temporary or permanent paralysis of one side of the body and loss of speech, caused by bleeding from an artery, tissue blockage of an artery or a blood clot. See also sunstroke. 10 colloq the least amount of work • hasn't done a stroke all day. verb (stroked, stroking) 1 to caress in kindness or affection, often repeatedly. 2 to strike (a ball) smoothly and with seeming effortlessness. stroking adj, noun. at a stroke with a single action. on the stroke of one, five, etc precisely at that particular time. a stroke of something a significant or impressive instance of it, especially of genius or luck. with a single stroke or a stroke of the pen with one small action • wiped millions off the stock exchange with a single stroke of the pen.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon strac.