stroke

verb \ ˈstrōk \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of stroke

stroked; stroking

transitive verb

1 : to rub gently in one direction; also : caress

2 : to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade

—

stroker

noun

Recent Examples of stroke from the Web

Realmuto finished a triple shy of the cycle, stroking a first-inning double, launching a third-inning home run and driving in a run with a fourth-inning single.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Behind J.T. Realmuto, Dan Straily, Marlins snap four-game losing streak," 12 May 2018
Cesar Hernandez had two hits, Pedro Florimon stroked a triple, and even Velasquez went 2 for 2.

— matt breen, Philly.com, "Vince Velasquez strikes out 12, Phillies beat Giants, 6-3, to sweep series," 10 May 2018
They were instructed to take just two fingers and stroke a 10-year-old penguin, named Red Pepper, on the back, nowhere else.

— linda gandee/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "North Ridgeville children flock to touch a penguin," 22 Apr. 2018
Calming a whimpering puppy or stroking a dog’s fur provokes a surge of oxytocin — a hormone that promotes trust, calmness and social bonds — just like caring for a child.

— cindy kuzma, USA TODAY, "Three stories that exemplify the healing power of a pet," 8 Apr. 2018
Other footage showed Scott holding Stormi facing him while Jenner cozied up beside him and reached out to lovingly stroke their daughter’s head.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "'Sleepy Stormi': Kylie Jenner Shares Photos of Her 9-Week-Old Daughter on Walk with Travis Scott," 5 Apr. 2018
After talking to her from the doorway, Inaba ventured inside, sat on the bed, stroked her arm, and apologized.

— kathryn schulz, The New Yorker, "Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry," 23 Apr. 2018
In a White House full of obsequious ass-kissers ever eager to stroke President Trump’s fragile ego, Vice-President Mike Pence stands apart.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "Report: Mike Pence Makes Fun of Himself to Please Trump," 18 Apr. 2018
So the jury is out on whether Vision Science can stroke women’s egos.

— kelly bastone, Outside Online, "Tested: The North Face's Butt-Slimming Tights," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stroke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stroke

Middle English, from Old English strācian; akin to Old High German strīhhan to stroke — more at strike

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

stroke

noun

Definition of stroke

1 : the act of striking; especially : a blow with a weapon or implement

2 : a single unbroken movement; especially : one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements

3 a : a controlled swing intended to hit a ball or shuttlecock; also : a striking of the ball

b : such a stroke charged to a player as a unit of scoring in golf

4 a : a sudden action or process producing an impact

a stroke of lightning

b : an unexpected result

a stroke of luck

5 : sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain — called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebrovascular accident

6 a : one of a series of propelling beats or movements against a resisting medium

a stroke of the oar

b : a rower who sets the pace for a crew

7 a : a vigorous or energetic effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished

a stroke of genius

a brilliant diplomatic stroke

b : a delicate or clever touch in a narrative, description, or construction

8 : heartbeat

9 : the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (such as a piston) having a reciprocating motion; also : the distance of such movement

10 : the sound of a bell being struck

at the stroke of twelve

; also : the specific time indicated by or as if by such a sound

[¹stroke]

: an act of stroking or caressing

12 a : a mark or dash made by a single movement of an implement

b : one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet

— at a stroke

: all at once

spent her savings at a stroke

See stroke defined for English-language learners

Examples of stroke in a Sentence

He had a stroke last winter.
She has a strong backhand stroke.
He is ahead by two strokes.
She swims with long, smooth strokes.
the stroke of an oar
She knows the four basic strokes.

Recent Examples of stroke from the Web

McMaster was admitted to Cathedral Village on April 9 for rehabilitation following a stroke.

— Washington Post, "Nurse charged in death of former Trump adviser’s father," 12 May 2018
His specialties were neurology and vascular neurology, especially the study of stroke.

— bonnie l. cook, Philly.com, "Edgar Jackson Kenton III, 78, renowned neurologist," 11 May 2018
It can also be treated by anti-arrhythmic drugs including amiodarone, and some patients may take anticoagulant drugs like warfarin to reduce the risk of stroke.

— peter loftus, WSJ, "Heart Device Procedure Is No Better Than Drug Therapy for Irregular Heartbeat: Study," 10 May 2018
He was first brought to the facility on April 9 for rehabilitation after a stroke.

— christal hayes, USA TODAY, "Nurse charged in death of father of former Trump aide H.R. McMaster," 10 May 2018
McMaster was admitted to Cathedral Village on April 9 for rehabilitation following a stroke.

— alexandra villarreal and michael rubinkam, chicagotribune.com, "Nurse charged in death of former Trump adviser H.R. McMaster's father," 10 May 2018
The new law allows Medicare to cover telemedicine services for people who have had a stroke and those who get kidney dialysis.

— author: steven findlay, Anchorage Daily News, "More and more patients can use health insurance to cover virtual doctor visits," 7 May 2018
His mother abandoned the family on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and his father died months later of a stroke in a hay field.

— special to the oregonian, OregonLive.com, "Oregon failed to protect public from killer found 'guilty except for insanity'," 25 Apr. 2018
Be vigilant for signs of an infection (redness, swelling, draining at the site) or a serious complication (pain, disfigured tissue, shortness of breath, symptoms of a stroke), which can appear months or years down the road.

— carolyn l. todd, SELF, "Cardi B’s Butt Injection Story Is a Reminder of How Dangerous Illegal Cosmetic Surgery Can Be," 13 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of stroke

Middle English; akin to Old English strīcan to stroke — more at strike

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

stroke Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, lash, lick, pelt, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap);

body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut;

cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO;

battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing;

flogging, walloping, whip, whipping;

stroke

verb

Definition of stroke

stroked; stroking

transitive verb

1 a : to mark with a short line

stroke the t's

b : to cancel by drawing a line through

stroked out his name

2 : to set the stroke for (a rowing crew); also : to set the stroke for the crew of (a rowing boat)

3 : hit; especially : to propel (a ball) with a controlled swinging blow

intransitive verb

1 : to execute a stroke

2 : to row at a certain number of strokes a minute

First Known Use of stroke

1597

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STROKE Defined for English Language Learners

stroke

noun

Definition of stroke for English Language Learners

medical : a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked
: an act of hitting a ball or the movement made to hit a ball during a game
golf : an act of hitting the ball that is counted as part of a player's score

STROKE Defined for Kids

stroke

verb \ ˈstrōk \

Definition of stroke for Students

stroked; stroking

: to rub gently in one direction

I stroked the dog's head.

stroke

noun

Definition of stroke for Students

1 : the act of striking : blow

the stroke of a whip

2 : one of a series of repeated movements (as in swimming or rowing)

3 : a sudden serious illness caused by the breaking or blocking of an artery in the brain

4 : the sound of striking (as of a clock or bell)

the stroke of midnight

5 : the hitting of a ball in a game (as golf or tennis)

6 : a sudden or unexpected example

a stroke of luck

7 : a single movement or the mark made by a single movement of a brush, pen, or tool

8 : a sudden action or process that results in something being struck

a stroke of lightning

9 : effort by which something is done or the results of such effort

It was a stroke of genius.

Medical Dictionary

stroke

noun \ ˈstrōk \

medical Definition of stroke

: sudden impairment or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion that is caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel supplying the brain and is accompanied by permanent damage of brain tissue

Note: Symptoms of stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face, confusion, impaired speech or vision, loss of coordination or balance, trouble walking, or severe headache. The most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke, results from a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, while hemorrhagic stroke results from a ruptured blood vessel. A very brief interruption of blood supply to the brain usually without lasting effects is called a ministroke or a transient ischemic attack.

… people at risk for stroke should be evaluated for surgery to open up blockages in the arteries of the neck.
—Jay Siwek, The Washington Post, 22 June 1999