the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
"The engineer adjusted the cam lobe to increase the stroke of the piston in the engine."
a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
"After his grandfather suffered a stroke, he was rushed to the hospital where doctors worked frantically to restore blood flow to his brain."
(golf) the unit of scoring in golf is the act of hitting the ball with a club
"Nicklaus won by three strokes"
the oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew
"As the stroke, you set the rhythm that everyone else in the boat follows to ensure we cross the finish line together."
anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
"winning the lottery was a happy accident"
"the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"
"it was due to an accident or fortuity"
a mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush
"she applied the paint in careful strokes"
any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing
"After hours of frantic paddling, she finally managed to complete the full length of the lake without taking a single stroke."
a single complete movement
"She counted off each stroke of her oar as she glided smoothly across the lake."
An act of stroking (moving one's hand over a surface).
"She gently stroked her cat's fur to soothe it after the loud thunderstorm."
In plain English: A stroke is a serious medical emergency where blood flow to part of your brain is suddenly blocked or burst, causing damage.
"She gave him a friendly stroke on the shoulder before they parted ways."
strike a ball with a smooth blow
"The tennis player waited for the perfect moment to stroke the ball with a smooth, powerful swing."
row at a particular rate
"The oarsman increased his stroke to match the speed of the race ahead."
To move one's hand or an object (such as a broom) along (a surface) in one direction.
"She carefully stroked the dust off the antique mirror with a soft feather duster before hanging it back on the wall."
In plain English: To stroke means to gently move your hand back and forth over someone's skin, usually to show affection or calm them down.
"She gently stroked the cat's soft fur."
Usage: Use the verb stroke to describe moving your hand, brush, or another tool smoothly across a surface, often with a gentle or rhythmic motion. This action differs from rubbing by emphasizing fluidity rather than friction or pressure.
The word "stroke" comes from Old English strāc, originally meaning a blow from a weapon or a cut. While it also refers to the slash symbol "/", this specific sense arose later as a shortened form of "oblique stroke."