# stroke

/ˈstɹoʊk/ (US) · /stɹˈəʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stroke
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. medical emergency

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, serious illness in the brain caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel.

For teachers: a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain.

- He had to stay in the hospital for weeks after suffering a minor stroke.
- The patient's recovery from the stroke was remarkably swift, though some minor speech impairment remained a concern for the neurology team.

### 2. gentle touch

noun · CEFR B1

the act of moving your hand gently over a surface or a pet.

For teachers: an act of moving one's hand or an object across a surface with gentle pressure.

- The cat purred loudly after just one gentle stroke on its head.
- With a steady stroke of the cloth, she polished the antique silver until it gleamed in the candlelight.

### 3. art or writing

noun · CEFR B2

a single mark made by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush.

For teachers: a single movement or mark made by a pen, pencil, or brush on a surface.

- The artist finished the painting with a few quick strokes of red paint.
- The calligrapher executed each stroke with profound precision, ensuring the ink density remained consistent across the entire parchment.

### 5. clever action

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, very successful or clever action.

For teachers: a sudden or effective action or event, often used in the phrase 'a stroke of luck' or 'a stroke of genius'.

- Finding that old map was a stroke of luck for the researchers.
- The CEO's decision to pivot toward renewable energy proved to be a stroke of genius that saved the company from bankruptcy.

### 6. to touch gently

verb · CEFR B1

to move your hand gently over something, like an animal's fur.

For teachers: to move one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, typically as a gesture of affection.

- The child wanted to stroke the rabbit, but it was too shy.
- She continued to stroke the dog's ears absentmindedly while she read her book by the fireplace.

### 7. to hit a ball

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to hit a ball with a smooth, controlled movement in sports.

For teachers: to hit or kick a ball with a flowing, rhythmic motion, particularly in cricket, tennis, or golf.

- The golfer stroked the ball perfectly toward the final hole.
- The batsman stroked the delivery through the covers with such timing that the fielders barely had time to react.

## Examples

- Quick treatment for a stroke is very important.
- Recognizing the signs of a stroke, like a drooping face or slurred speech, can save a life.
- After the minor stroke, he underwent months of physical therapy to regain full control over the muscles on the left side of his body.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.