Definition of stroke

• imp. - Struck.
• v. t. - The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.
• v. t. - The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.
• v. t. - The striking of the clock to tell the hour.
• v. t. - A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.
• v. t. - A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.
• v. t. - Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay.
• v. t. - A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.
• v. t. - A throb or beat, as of the heart.
• v. t. - One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.
• v. t. - The rate of succession of stroke; as, a quick stroke.
• v. t. - The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; -- called also stroke oar.
• v. t. - The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman.
• v. t. - A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.
• v. t. - The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.
• v. t. - Power; influence.
• v. t. - Appetite.
• v. t. - To strike.
• v. t. - To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.
• v. t. - To make smooth by rubbing.
• v. t. - To give a finely fluted surface to.
• v. t. - To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.