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stroke

 - 14 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To stroke
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
stroke

  1. tv. & in.
    to flatter someone; to soothe and comfort someone. : She “strokes” everybody to keep them on her side during the bad times.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

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.

virgule 
thin sloping line, used as a comma in medieval MSS, 1837, from Fr. virgule, from L. virgula "punctuation mark," lit. "little twig," dim. of virga "shoot, rod, stick." The word had been borrowed in its L. form in 1728.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

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

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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