1 [count] medical : a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked
▪ He had/suffered a stroke last winter. ▪ a stroke patient/victim — see also sunstroke 2 [count] a : an act of hitting a ball or the movement made to hit a ball during a game
▪ She has a strong backhand stroke. ▪ a forceful stroke — see also ground stroke
b golf : an act of hitting the ball that is counted as part of a player's score
▪ He is ahead by two strokes. 3 [count] a : one of a series of repeated movements of your arms in swimming or rowing that you make to move yourself or the boat through the water
▪ She swims with long, smooth strokes. ▪ the stroke of an oar
b : a style of swimming
▪ She knows the four basic strokes. — see also backstroke, breaststroke 4 [count] : one of a series of repeated movements by something that goes up and down or back and forth
▪ The bird soared higher with each stroke of its wings. ▪ the stroke of a piston 5 [count] : an act of hitting someone or something with a stick, whip, etc.
▪ a stroke of the whip 6 [count] : a gentle movement of your hand over or along something
▪ She gave the cat a stroke. [=she stroked the cat] 7 [count] : a single act of moving a pen or brush when it is being used to write or paint
▪ He writes with smooth strokes. ▪ You can see the strokes of the painter's brush throughout the painting. ▪ (figurative) He has the power to end this policy with a (single) stroke of a/the/his pen. [=by signing a law, order, etc., which ends it] ; also : a line or mark made by a pen or brush
▪ A few strokes (of paint) form the basic shape of the horse. — see also brushstroke, keystroke 8 a [count] : one of the sounds made by a clock or bell to indicate a particular time
▪ the first stroke of the clock at midnight
b [singular] : an exact time
▪ They arrived at the stroke of midnight. [=exactly at midnight] 9 [count] : a single decisive action
▪ She solved all our problems with a single, brilliant/bold stroke. ▪ We can resolve this at/by/in/with one stroke. 10 [count] : something good, lucky, etc., that happens or is thought of suddenly — usually singular ▪ Her idea for the design for the interior was a stroke of inspiration. ▪ It was only by a stroke of luck that we found a parking spot. ▪ It was a lucky stroke. ▪ Deciding to relocate the company was a stroke of genius. [=a brilliant idea] 11 [count] : a bright flash of lightning
▪ a stroke of lightning