1. A single complete movement
   "With one stroke of the pen, he signed the important document"
    
2. (sport) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
   "it took two strokes to get out of the bunker";
   - shot
    
3. A mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush
   "she applied the paint in careful strokes"
    
4. Any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing
   "The swimmer's efficient strokes propelled her quickly through the water"
    
5. (golf) a unit of scoring, the act of hitting the ball with a club
   "Nicklaus won by three strokes"
    
6. A sudden loss of consciousness resulting from rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leading to oxygen lack in the brain
   "Apoplexy was an old term for what we now call a stroke";
   - apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident, CVA
    
7. A light touch with the hands
   "The gentle stroke calmed the nervous cat";
   - stroking
    
8. Anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
   "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck";
   - accident, fortuity, chance event
    
9. A punctuation mark ('/') used to separate related items of information
   "The menu listed the price as '$10/person' using a stroke";
   - solidus [Brit, Cdn], slash, virgule, diagonal, separatrix, oblique [Brit]
    
10. The maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
    "The engineer adjusted the cam stroke to optimize the engine's performance";
    - throw, cam stroke
     
11. The oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew
    "The experienced stroke maintained a steady rhythm throughout the race"

1. Strike a ball with a smooth blow
   "He stroked the golf ball perfectly"
    
2. Touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
   "He stroked his long beard"
    
3. Row at a particular rate
   "The crew stroked at 30 per minute"
    
4. Treat gingerly or carefully
   "You have to stroke the boss"

Derived forms: strokes, stroked, stroking

Type of: attack, blandish, flatter, happening, hit, locomotion, maneuver [US], manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], mark, motility, motion, move, movement, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, play, print, punctuation, punctuation mark [Brit], row, rower, score, strike, touch, touching, travel

Encyclopedia: Stroke