stroke

stroke / strōk/ • n. 1. an 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. 2. an 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. 3. a movement, esp. 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. 4. a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, esp. through thrombosis. • v. [tr.] 1. move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface, esp. hair, fur, or skin), typically repeatedly; caress: he put his hand on her hair and stroked it. ∎  [tr.] apply (something) to a surface using a gentle movement: she strokes blue eyeshadow on her eyelids. ∎ inf. reassure or flatter (someone), esp. in order to gain their cooperation: production executives were expert at stroking stars and brokering talent. 2. act as the stroke of (a boat or crew): he stroked Penn’s rowing eight to victory. 3. hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately: Miller calmly stroked three-pointers throughout the tournament. ∎  score (a run or point) in such a manner: the senior stroked a two-run single. PHRASES: at a (or one) stroke by a single action having immediate effect: attitudes cannot be changed at one stroke. not (or never) do a stroke of work do no work at all. on the stroke of —— precisely at the specified time: he arrived on the stroke of two. put someone off their stroke disconcert someone so that they do not work or perform as well as they might; break the pattern or rhythm of someone's work. stroke of business a profitable transaction. stroke of genius an outstandingly brilliant and original idea. stroke of luck (or good luck) a fortunate occurrence that could not have been predicted or expected.