A movement similar to that of hitting.

• the stroke of a bird’s wing in flying

hobbieslifestylerowingA movement similar to that of hitting.

hobbieslifestylerowingA movement similar to that of hitting.

hobbieslifestylesportsA movement similar to that of hitting.

• butterfly stroke
• Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern.

A movement similar to that of hitting.

• [I]n true marriage lies / Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils / Defect in each, and always thought in thought, / Purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow, / The single pure and perfect animal, / The two-cell'd heart beating, with one full stroke / Life.

engineeringnatural-sciencesphysical-sciencesA movement similar to that of hitting.

• For the pistons of a four-stroke engine, the exhaust stroke follows the power stroke.

A movement similar to that of hitting.

• The bore times the stroke times the number of cylinders equals displacement.

A movement similar to that of hitting.

An act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment.

• the stroke of death
• The stroke of God, Aduersyte I hyght; / I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght, / I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, / And in theyr moste truste i make them ouerthrowe.

A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden; a blow, a calamity.

• The Abp. [Archbishop] of York [John Dolben] now died of yᵉ small pox, aged 62, a corpulent man. […] I looke on this as a greate stroke to yᵉ poore Church of England, now in this defecting period.
• T'encreaſe this load, ſome ſycophant-report / Deſtroy'd his int'reſt and good grace at court. / At this one ſtroke the man look'd dead in lavv: / His flatt'rers ſcamper, and his friends vvithdravv.

An amount of work; specifically, a large amount of business or work.

• a stroke of business
• ["]But I'm gwine, Mas'r George,—gwine to have four dollars a week; and Missis is gwine to lay it all up, to buy back my old man agin!" / "Whew!" said George, "here's a stroke of business, to be sure! How are you going [to Louisville]?"

A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced; also, something accomplished by such an effort; an achievement, a feat.

• a stroke of genius

A single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

• Among other branches of ſcience, if one can call it ſo, Mr. [John] Evelyn ſtudied Phyſiognomy, and found diſſimulation, boldneſs, cruelty and ambition in every touch and ſtroke of [Isaac] Fuller's picture of Oliver Cromvvell's face, vvhich he ſays, vvas the moſt reſembling portrait of the Protector.

artscalligraphycommunicationsA single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

computingengineeringmathematicsA single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

mediapublishingtypographyA single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

• Subject: Fire. Dear Sir-stroke-Madam: I am writing to inform you of a fire which has broken out at the premises of … No. That's too formal.

A distinctive expression in a written composition; a touch.

• to give some finishing strokes to an essay

archaicInfluence; power.

• [W]here ſoeuer poſſeſſyons be pryuate, where moneye beareth all the ſtroke, it is hard and almoſte impoſſyble that there the weale publyque maye iuſtelye be gouerned and proſperouſlye floryſhe: […]
• Theſame Alexander, be auiſed and coũſailed, that he ſhould winne and make frendes vnto him, all ſuche perſones both honeſt and vnhoneſt, good and badde, as beare any rule, ſtroke or autoritte, in the commen weale, and that the good men he ſhould vſe, and the euil perſones he ſhould abuſe, that is to ſaie, applie to ſome good vſe, that of theimſelfes they are not apte nor inclined vnto.

archaicgovernmenthobbieslifestyleInfluence; power.

A masterful or effective action.

• To enable any other piece to effect the decisive stroke, a greater number of facilities, arising either from the coöperation of partisans, or the obstruction of the adverse king by his own pieces, must conspire in proportion to the assailant's class.
• Black gives the opponent and opportunity for a beautiful combination stroke. But his game was anyhow very bad already, for in answer to QR—R sq., which was about his only other alternative, White would have replied Kt—R5 with an irresistible attack.

medicinesciencesA sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage and possible death; it may be either hemorrhagic or thrombotic.

• suffer a stroke

sciencesAn individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage.

• A flash of lightning may be made up of several strokes. If they are separated by enough time for the eye to distinguish them, the lightning will appear to flicker.

An individual social interaction whereby one gives another attention or recognition.

• Being gay and in prison is a very lonely experience. I would like to get some gay contacts on the outside that could give me some positive strokes.

obsoleteThe effect or result of a striking; affliction or injury; a bruise or wound; soreness.

• Moreover the light of the Moone ſhalbe as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne ſhall be ſeuenfold, as the light of ſeuen dayes, in the day that the Lord bindeth vp the breach of his people, and healeth the ſtroke of their wound.

obsoleteChiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite.

• [N]either can any man be entertain'd as a Soldier, that has not a greater ſtroke than ordinary at eating: for by this they judge of his ſtrength and conſtitution.
• Lady Answ[erall]. God bleſs you, Colonel; you have a good Stroke vvith you. / Col[onel Atwit]. O Madam; formerly I could eat all, but novv I leave nothing; I eat but one Meal a Day.

obsoletemedicinesciencesA sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal.

• a stroke of apoplexy

obsoleteentertainmentlifestylemusicA bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument; also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played; hence, a melody, a tune.

• Or can he desire a nobler or a fuller Argument either for the softest Aires or the loudest Echoes, for the smoothest or briskest strokes of his Pindaric Lyre?

automotivetransportvehiclesTo lengthen the stroke of (an engine) by installing a crankshaft with longer throws.

• Yes, it's 'only' a small block, but it’s got some tricks up its sleeve — it's been bored, stroked, ported, polished, and fuel-injected.

obsoleteTo depict (something) with a paintbrush.

medicinesciencesChiefly followed by out: to suffer loss of brain function when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted; to have a stroke (noun sense 4).

hobbieslifestylesportsTo swim by making co-ordinated movements with the arms and legs.

obsoleteTo soothe (someone); also, to flatter or indulge (someone).