Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Stroke
1.
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.
His hand fetcheth a
stroke
with the ax to cut down the tree. Deut. xix. 5.
A fool’s lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for
strokes
. Prov. xviii. 6.
He entered and won the whole kingdom of Naples without striking a
stroke
. Bacon.
2.
The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.
In the day that Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the
stroke
of their wound. Isa. xxx. 26.
3.
The striking of the clock to tell the hour.
Well, but what's o'clock?
- Upon the
- Upon the
stroke
of ten. – Well, let is strike. Shakespeare
4.
A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.
Dryden.
5.
A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil;
as, an up
. stroke
; a firm stroke
O, lasting as those colors may they shine,
Free as thy
Free as thy
stroke
, yet faultless as thy line. Pope.
6.
Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch;
as, to give some finishing
. strokes
to an essayAddison.
7.
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 deathAt this one
stroke
the man looked dead in law. Harte.
8.
A throb or beat, as of the heart.
Tennyson.
9.
One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished;
; also: as, the
stroke
of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.(Rowing)
(a)
The rate of succession of stroke;
as, a quick
. stroke
(b)
The oar nearest the stern of a boat, by which the other oars are guided; – called also
stroke oar
. (c)
The rower who pulls the stroke oar; the strokesman.
10.
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.11.
(Mach.)
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
; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; stroke
of a pistonas, the piston is at half
. stroke
☞ The respective strokes are distinguished as up and down strokes, outward and inward strokes, forward and back strokes, the forward stroke in stationary steam engines being toward the crosshead, but in locomotives toward the front of the vehicle.
12.
Power; influence.
[Obs.]
“Where money beareth [hath] all the stroke.” Robynson (More's Utopia).
He has a great
stroke
with the reader. Dryden.
13.
Appetite.
[Obs.]
Swift.
To keep stroke
, to make strokes in unison.
The oars where silver,
Which to the tune of flutes
Which to the tune of flutes
kept stroke
. Shakespeare
Stroke
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Strokeed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Strokeing
.] 1.
To strike.
[Obs.]
Ye mote with the plat sword again
Stroken
him in the wound, and it will close. Chaucer.
2.
To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.
He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind,
He
He
stroked
her cheeks. Dryden.
3.
To make smooth by rubbing.
Longfellow.
4.
(Masonry)
To give a finely fluted surface to.
5.
To row the stroke oar of;
as, to
. stroke
a boat