noun

stroke

strohk

noun

A sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death.

"He suffered a stroke in his early sixties but made a strong recovery."

A single movement of a tool, brush, oar, or limb, or the mark it leaves.

"She finished the painting with a few final brush strokes."

"His powerful swimming strokes carried him ahead of the field."

A stretch of good luck or a single impressive achievement.

"Winning the contract was a real stroke of luck."

verb

To move a hand or object gently across a surface.

"She stroked the cat's fur as it curled up beside her."

How to Use Stroke

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA medical emergency involving the brain's blood supply, or a single sweeping movement, or a lucky break.

Common mistake

A "stroke of luck" refers to good fortune, unrelated to the medical meaning — context makes it clear which is meant.

Common pairings

have a stroke stroke of luck stroke of genius brush stroke

Word Forms

stroked past tense, stroked past tense, strokes plural, stroke plural, stroked plural, strokes plural, strokes singular, strokes singular, stroke singular, stroked singular, strokest singular, strokedst singular, stroketh singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He suffered a _____ in his early sixties but made a strong recovery.

Etymology

From Old English strac, related to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to rub, stroke, or strike" — the same root that gives "strike."

Rhymes for stroke

woke coke poke joke toke yoke hoke broke spoke smoke bloke stoke

See all rhymes for stroke →