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stroke - 17 dictionary results

stroke

1[strohk] ,noun, verb, stroked, strok⋅ing.
–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, esp. one continuously repeated in some process.
12. Machinery.
a. one of a series of alternating continuous movements of something back and forth over or through the same line.
b. the complete movement of a moving part, esp. a reciprocating part, in one direction.
c. the distance traversed in such a movement.
d. a half revolution of an engine during which the piston travels from one extreme of its range to the other.
13. Swimming.
a. a type or method of swimming: The crawl is a rapid stroke.
b. each of the successive movements of the arms and legs in propelling the body through the water.
14. Rowing.
a. a single pull of the oar.
b. the manner or style of moving the oars.
c. 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)
24. to mark with a stroke or strokes, as of a pen; cancel, as by a stroke of a pen.
25. Rowing.
a. to row as a stroke oar of (a boat or crew).
b. 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; ME strok, strak (n.), prob. continuing OE *strāc (whence strācian to stroke 2 ); c. G Streich; akin to strike


1. rap, tap, knock, pat. 1, 7. See blow 1 . 5. beat, thump; rhythm.

stroke

2[strohk] verb, stroked, strok⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
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:
bef. 900; ME stroken (v.), OE strācian; c. G streichen; akin to strike

vir⋅gule

[vur-gyool]
–noun Printing.
1. a short oblique stroke (/) between two words indicating that whichever is appropriate may be chosen to complete the sense of the text in which they occur: The defendant and/or his/her attorney must appear in court.
2. a dividing line, as in dates, fractions, a run-in passage of poetry to show verse division, etc.: 3/21/27; 3/4; Sweetest love I do not go/For weariness of thee.
Also called diagonal, separatrix, shilling mark, slant, slash, solidus; especially British, stroke.


Origin:
1830–40; < F virgule comma, little rod < L virgula; see virgulate
stroke 1   (strōk)   
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of striking, as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool; a blow or impact.
    1. The striking of a bell or gong.
    2. The sound so produced.
    3. The time so indicated: at the stroke of midnight.
    4. A single uninterrupted movement, especially when repeated or in a back-and-forth motion: the stroke of a pendulum.
    5. Any of a series of movements of a piston from one end of the limit of its motion to another.
    6. A single completed movement of the limbs and body, as in swimming or rowing.
    7. The manner or rate of executing such a movement: My favorite stroke is butterfly. She had a very rapid stroke.
    8. The rower who sits nearest the coxswain or the stern and sets the tempo for the other rowers.
    9. The position occupied by this person.
    10. A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.
    11. The manner of executing such a movement.
    12. A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement: finished six strokes under par.
    13. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    14. The act of making such a mark.
    15. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
  2. A sudden action or process having a strong impact or effect: a stroke of lightning.
  3. A sudden occurrence or result: a stroke of luck; a stroke of misfortune.
  4. A sudden severe attack, as of paralysis or sunstroke.
  5. 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.
  6. An inspired or effective idea or act: a stroke of genius.
    1. A single uninterrupted movement, especially when repeated or in a back-and-forth motion: the stroke of a pendulum.
    2. Any of a series of movements of a piston from one end of the limit of its motion to another.
    3. A single completed movement of the limbs and body, as in swimming or rowing.
    4. The manner or rate of executing such a movement: My favorite stroke is butterfly. She had a very rapid stroke.
    5. The rower who sits nearest the coxswain or the stern and sets the tempo for the other rowers.
    6. The position occupied by this person.
    7. A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.
    8. The manner of executing such a movement.
    9. A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement: finished six strokes under par.
    10. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    11. The act of making such a mark.
    12. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
    1. A single completed movement of the limbs and body, as in swimming or rowing.
    2. The manner or rate of executing such a movement: My favorite stroke is butterfly. She had a very rapid stroke.
    3. The rower who sits nearest the coxswain or the stern and sets the tempo for the other rowers.
    4. The position occupied by this person.
    5. A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.
    6. The manner of executing such a movement.
    7. A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement: finished six strokes under par.
    8. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    9. The act of making such a mark.
    10. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
  7. Nautical
    1. The rower who sits nearest the coxswain or the stern and sets the tempo for the other rowers.
    2. The position occupied by this person.
    3. A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.
    4. The manner of executing such a movement.
    5. A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement: finished six strokes under par.
    6. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    7. The act of making such a mark.
    8. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
  8. Sports
    1. A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.
    2. The manner of executing such a movement.
    3. A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement: finished six strokes under par.
    4. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    5. The act of making such a mark.
    6. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
    1. A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.
    2. The act of making such a mark.
    3. A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.
  9. A distinctive effect or deft touch, as in literary composition.
v.   stroked, strok·ing, strokes

v.   tr.
    1. To mark with a single short line.
    2. To draw a line through; cancel: stroked out the last sentence.
  1. Nautical To set the pace for (a rowing crew).
  2. To hit or propel (a ball, for example) with a smoothly regulated swing.
v.   intr.
  1. To make or perform a stroke.
  2. Nautical To row at a particular rate per minute.

[Middle English, probably from Old English *strāc; see streig- in Indo-European roots.]
stroke 2   (strōk)   
tr.v.   stroked, strok·ing, strokes
  1. To rub lightly, with or as if with the hand or something held in the hand; caress.
  2. Informal To behave attentively or flatteringly toward, especially in order to restore to confidence or win over.
n.  A light caressing movement, as of the hand.

[Middle English stroken, from Old English strācian, from *strāc, stroke; see stroke1.]
strok'er n.

Stroke

Stroke\, obs. imp. of Strike. Struck.

Stroke

Stroke\, n. [OE. strok, strook, strak, fr. striken. See Strike, v. t.]

1. The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.

His hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree. --Deut. xix. 5.

A fool's lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for strokes. --Prov. xviii. 6.

He entered and won the whole kingdom of Naples without striking a stroke. --Bacon.

2. The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.

In the day that Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. --Isa. xxx. 26.

3. The striking of the clock to tell the hour.

Well, but what's o'clock? - Upon the stroke of ten. -- Well, let is strike. --Shak.

4. A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking. --Dryden.

5. A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.

O, lasting as those colors may they shine, Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line. --Pope.

6. Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay. --Addison.

7. A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.

At this one stroke the man looked dead in law. --Harte.

8. A throb or beat, as of the heart. --Tennyson.

9. One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.; also: (Rowing) (a) The rate of succession of stroke; as, a quick stroke. (b) The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; -- called also stroke oar. (c) The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman.

10. A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.

11. (Mach.) The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.

Note: The respective strokes are distinguished as up and down strokes, outward and inward strokes, forward and back strokes, the forward stroke in stationary steam engines being toward the crosshead, but in locomotives toward the front of the vehicle.

12. Power; influence. [Obs.] "Where money beareth [hath] all the stroke." --Robynson (More's Utopia).

He has a great stroke with the reader. --Dryden.

13. Appetite. [Obs.] --Swift.

To keep stroke, to make strokes in unison.

The oars where silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke. --Shak.

Stroke

Stroke\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strokeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Strokeing.] [OE. stroken, straken, AS. str[=a]cian, fr. str[=i]can to go over, pass. See Strike, v. t., and cf. Straggle.]

1. To strike. [Obs.]

Ye mote with the plat sword again Stroken him in the wound, and it will close. --Chaucer.

2. To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.

He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind, He stroked her cheeks. --Dryden.

3. To make smooth by rubbing. --Longfellow.

4. (Masonry) To give a finely fluted surface to.

5. To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.
Language Translation for : stroke
Spanish: golpe,
German: der Schlag,
Japanese: -打ち

stroke

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.

stroke

n. Common name for the slant (`/', ASCII 0101111) character. See ASCII for other synonyms.

stroke  (n.)
"act of striking," c.1297, probably from O.E. *strac, from P.Gmc. *straikaz (cf. M.L.G. strek, Ger. streich, Goth. striks "stroke"), related to the verb stracian (see stroke (v.)). The meaning "mark of a pen" is from 1567; that of "a striking of a clock" is from 1436. Sense of "feat, achievement" (e.g. stroke of luck, 1853) first found 1672; the meaning "single pull of an oar or single movement of machinery" is from 1731. Meaning "apoplectic seizure" is from 1599 (originally the Stroke of God's Hand). Swimming sense is from 1800.

stroke  (v.)
"pass the hand gently over," O.E. stracian, related to strican "pass over lightly," from P.Gmc. *straikojanan, which is related to the root of strike, from PIE base *streig- (see strigil). Fig. sense of "soothe, flatter" is recorded from 1513. The noun meaning "a stroking movement of the hand" is recorded from 1631.

Main Entry: stroke
Pronunciation: 'strOk
Function: noun
: sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture orobstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain called also apoplexy, brain attack, cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident,; —see LITTLE STROKE

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   (strōk)  Pronunciation Key 
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
The oblique stroke character, "/", ASCII 47.
See ASCII for other synonyms.
[The Jargon File]

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