stroke

stroke1 [ strouk ] noun count **

▸ 1 medical condition

▸ 2 unexpected event

▸ 3 a hit with hand/object

▸ 4 in swimming/rowing

▸ 5 when lightning hits something

▸ 6 hour sound of clocks

▸ 7 single pen/brush mark

▸ 8 hand movement

▸ 9 slash mark (/)

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) a medical condition in which blood is suddenly blocked and cannot reach the brain, or in which a BLOOD VESSEL in the brain breaks, often causing a loss of the ability to speak or to move particular muscles:

have/suffer a stroke: The face was partly paralyzed after she suffered a stroke.

2. ) an unexpected but important event or action:

a stroke of luck/good fortune: Winning the lottery was quite a stroke of luck.

a stroke of genius/inspiration/brilliance: Using green as a background was a real stroke of genius.

a bold/master stroke: These plans are seen as a bold stroke by the local council.

3. ) a hit made with someone's hand, a stick, or another object:

With each stroke of the whip, the horse galloped faster.

a ) an instance of hitting the ball in some sports, or the way in which someone hits it:

He slammed the ball over the net with a powerful backhand stroke.

4. ) a style of swimming, or one complete movement of the arms and legs in swimming:

With powerful strokes she pulled ahead of the others.

a ) a style of rowing, or one complete movement of the OARS through the water

b ) a single complete movement of a bird's wings during flight

5. ) an instance of LIGHTNING hitting something:

The tree was split by a stroke of lightning.

6. ) one of the series of sounds some clocks make to mark the hour, or the time marked by this:

At the stroke of nine (=at exactly nine o'clock) the band began to play.

7. ) a single short line or mark made with a pen or brush:

a brush stroke

8. ) a gentle movement of your hand across skin, hair, or fur:

She gave the dog's head a stroke.

9. ) BRITISH SPOKEN a SLASH mark (/)

at a stroke/one stroke

with a single action that changes things completely:

They added 230 customers to their list at a stroke.

different strokes (for different folks) INFORMAL

used for saying that what is good or enjoyable for one person may not be so for someone else

not do a stroke of work INFORMAL

to do no work at all

put someone off their stroke BRITISH

to cause someone to stop what they are doing or make a mistake

with a/the stroke of a pen

used for emphasizing that something important is done by the simple act of signing a document:

With the stroke of a pen, the chairman had signed away the company.

stroke

stroke 2 [ strouk ] verb transitive **

1. ) to gently move your hand over skin, hair, or fur:

She stroked his hair as he gradually fell asleep.

2. ) to hit or kick a ball with a smooth movement

3. ) AMERICAN INFORMAL to say nice things to someone in order to make them feel better or to gain their support:

She'll need to be stroked if we're going to get her approval on the budget.