stroke1

[strohk] /stroʊk/
noun
1.
the act or an instance of striking, as with the fist, a weapon, or a hammer; a blow.
2.
a hitting of or upon anything.
3.
a striking of a clapper or hammer, as on a bell.
4.
the sound produced by this.
5.
a throb or pulsation, as of the heart.
6.
Also called apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident. Pathology. a blockage or hemorrhage of a blood vessel leading to the brain, causing inadequate oxygen supply and, depending on the extent and location of the abnormality, such symptoms as weakness, paralysis of parts of the body, speech difficulties, and, if severe, loss of consciousness or death.
7.
something likened to a blow in its effect, as in causing pain, injury, or death; an attack of apoplexy or paralysis.
8.
a destructive discharge of lightning.
9.
a vigorous movement, as if in dealing a blow.
10.
Sports. a hitting of a ball, as by the swing of a racquet in tennis or the controlled jabbing or thrusting with the cue in pool and billiards.
11.
a single complete movement, especially one continuously repeated in some process.
12.
Machinery.
  1. one of a series of alternating continuous movements of something back and forth over or through the same line.
  2. the complete movement of a moving part, especially a reciprocating part, in one direction.
  3. the distance traversed in such a movement.
  4. a half revolution of an engine during which the piston travels from one extreme of its range to the other.
13.
Swimming.
  1. a type or method of swimming:
    The crawl is a rapid stroke.
  2. each of the successive movements of the arms and legs in propelling the body through the water.
14.
Rowing.
  1. a single pull of the oar.
  2. the manner or style of moving the oars.
  3. Also called stroke oar. the crew member nearest to the stern of the boat, to whose strokes those of the other crew members must conform.
15.
a movement of a pen, pencil, brush, graver, or the like.
16.
a mark traced by or as if by one movement of a pen, pencil, brush, or the like.
17.
a distinctive or effective touch in a literary composition:
His style revealed the stroke of a master.
18.
a single or minimal act, piece, or amount of work, activity, etc.:
to refuse to do a stroke of work.
19.
an attempt to attain some object:
a bold stroke for liberty.
20.
a measure adopted for a particular purpose.
21.
a keystroke:
no more than 65 strokes to the line for business letters.
22.
a feat or achievement:
a stroke of genius.
23.
a sudden or chance happening, as of luck or fortune.
verb (used with object), stroked, stroking.
24.
to mark with a stroke or strokes, as of a pen; cancel, as by a stroke of a pen.
25.
Rowing.
  1. to row as a stroke oar of (a boat or crew).
  2. to set the stroke for the crew of (a boat).
26.
Sports. to hit (a ball), as with a deliberate, smooth swing of a bat or club.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English strok, strak (noun), probably continuing Old English *strāc (whence strācian to stroke2); cognate with German Streich; akin to strike
Synonyms
1. rap, tap, knock, pat. 1, 7. See blow1 . 5. beat, thump; rhythm.

stroke2

[strohk] /stroʊk/
verb (used with object), stroked, stroking.
1.
to pass the hand or an instrument over (something or somebody) lightly or with little pressure; rub gently, as in soothing or caressing.
2.
Informal. to promote feelings of self-approval in; flatter.
noun
3.
an act or instance of stroking; a stroking movement.
Origin
before 900; Middle English stroken (v.), Old English strācian; cognate with German streichen; akin to strike
Examples from the web for stroke
  • Most people who survive a stroke have some type of disability.
  • Ambulance personnel often don't know how to diagnose or treat heat stroke on the spot either.
  • People in such a state have serious brain damage as a result of an accident or stroke.
  • In the midst of sweltering heat waves, air conditioning can be a lifesaver, protecting against heat stroke and hyperthermia.
  • Either way, this damage causes brain malfunction, which becomes evident as the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
  • Medical researchers are concerned that eating more meat will result in an increase in heart disease and stroke.
  • The professor was eventually fired and almost immediately afterward died of a stroke brought on by the stress of it all.
  • It is seductive to think a new technology can solve your problems at a stroke.
  • Because of the extreme heat, many poverty stricken people were dying of heat stroke.
  • My partners has had a stroke and lives with the consequences.
British Dictionary definitions for stroke

stroke

/strəʊk/
noun
1.
the act or an instance of striking; a blow, knock, or hit
2.
a sudden action, movement, or occurrence: a stroke of luck
3.
a brilliant or inspired act or feat: a stroke of genius
4.
(pathol) apoplexy; rupture of a blood vessel in the brain resulting in loss of consciousness, often followed by paralysis, or embolism or thrombosis affecting a cerebral vessel
5.
  1. the striking of a clock
  2. the hour registered by the striking of a clock: on the stroke of three
6.
a mark, flourish, or line made by a writing implement
7.
another name for solidus, used esp when dictating or reading aloud
8.
a light touch or caress, as with the fingers
9.
a pulsation, esp of the heart
10.
a single complete movement or one of a series of complete movements
11.
(sport) the act or manner of striking the ball with a racket, club, bat, etc
12.
any one of the repeated movements used by a swimmer to propel himself through the water
13.
a manner of swimming, esp one of several named styles such as the crawl or butterfly
14.
  1. any one of a series of linear movements of a reciprocating part, such as a piston
  2. the distance travelled by such a part from one end of its movement to the other
15.
a single pull on an oar or oars in rowing
16.
manner or style of rowing
17.
the oarsman who sits nearest the stern of a shell, facing the cox, and sets the rate of striking for the rest of the crew
18.
(US, informal) a compliment or comment that enhances a person's self-esteem
19.
(modifier) (slang, mainly US) pornographic; masturbatory: stroke magazines
20.
(usually used with a negative) a stroke, a stroke of work, a small amount of work
21.
off one's stroke, performing or working less well than usual
22.
on the stroke of, punctually at
verb
23.
(transitive) to touch, brush, or caress lightly or gently
24.
(transitive) to mark a line or a stroke on or through
25.
to act as the stroke of (a racing shell)
26.
(transitive) (sport) to strike (a ball) with a smooth swinging blow
27.
(transitive) (US & Canadian, informal) to handle or influence (someone) with care, using persuasion, flattery, etc
Word Origin
Old English strācian; related to Middle Low German strēken; see strike
Word Origin and History for stroke
n.

"act of striking," c.1300, probably from Old English *strac, from Proto-Germanic *straikaz (cf. Middle Low German strek, German streich, Gothic striks "stroke"), related to the verb stracian (see stroke (v.)). The meaning "mark of a pen" is from 1560s; that of "a striking of a clock" is from mid-15c. Sense of "feat, achievement" (e.g. stroke of luck, 1853) first found 1670s; the meaning "single pull of an oar or single movement of machinery" is from 1731. Meaning "apoplectic seizure" is from 1590s (originally the Stroke of God's Hand). Swimming sense is from 1800.

v.

"pass the hand gently over," Old English stracian, related to strican "pass over lightly," from Proto-Germanic *straikojanan, which is related to the root of strike, from PIE root *streig- (see strigil). Figurative sense of "soothe, flatter" is recorded from 1510s. The noun meaning "a stroking movement of the hand" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Stroked; stroking.

stroke in Medicine

stroke 1 (strōk)
n.

  1. A sudden severe attack, as of paralysis or sunstroke.

  2. A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, diminution or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. Also called cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident.

stroke in Science
stroke
  (strōk)   
A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel of the brain, resulting in necrosis of brain tissue (called a cerebral infarct) and characterized by loss of muscular control, weakening or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of brain damage. Also called cerebrovascular accident.
stroke in Culture

stroke definition


A sudden loss of brain function caused by an interruption in the supply of blood to the brain. A ruptured blood vessel or cerebral thrombosis may cause the stroke, which can occur in varying degrees of severity from temporary paralysis and slurred speech to permanent brain damage and death.

Slang definitions & phrases for stroke

stroke

modifier

: Two things are at stake for employees who parrot their bosses or who always are in stroke mode (1969+)

noun

: Everybody needs a stroke or two every once in a while (1969+)

verb
  1. To praise and please; caress the ego of; flatter; cosset: Mr Hoover should be called in privately for a stroking session/ and ads in Rolling Stone were more for the purpose of stroking recording artists (1561+)
  2. To masturbate (1970+)

[stroker, ''flatterer,'' is found by 1632]


stroke in Technology


The oblique stroke character, "/", ASCII 47.
See ASCII for other synonyms.
[Jargon File]

Idioms and Phrases with stroke

stroke

see: