STROKES | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English strācian ‘caress lightly’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch streek ‘a stroke’, German streichen ‘to stroke’, also to strike. The earliest noun sense ‘blow’ is first recorded in Middle English

an act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow

act of hitting or striking person or thing

• he received three strokes of the cane

a mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush in one direction across paper or canvas

mark made by drawing pen, pencil, or paintbrush in one direction

• the paint had been applied in careful, regular strokes

an act of moving one's hand across a surface with gentle pressure

act of moving one's hand across surface with gentle pressure

• massage the cream into your skin using light upward strokes

each of a series of movements in which something moves out of its position and back into it

each of series of movements in which something moves out of its position

• the ray swam with effortless strokes of its huge wings

a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis

sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by interruption in flow of blood to brain

• he was left disabled by a stroke
• smoking increases the risk of stroke

move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress

move one's hand with gentle pressure over surface

• he put his hand on her hair and stroked it

act as the stroke of (a boat or crew)

act as stroke of

• he stroked the coxed four to victory

hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately

hit or kick ball smoothly

• Markwick stroked the ball home