stroke
UK: strəʊk | US: stroʊk
n. a sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel
n. a gentle movement of the hand over a surface
vt. to move one's hand gently over something
n. a single complete movement in swimming or rowing
n. a mark made by drawing a pen, brush, or tool
The word "stroke" originates from Old English strācian, meaning "to strike lightly," derived from Proto-Germanic straikōną. The root stro- relates to striking or brushing, while the suffix -ke (modern -oke) evolved into a noun-forming ending. Over time, the meaning expanded to include both physical actions (e.g., brushing) and medical conditions (e.g., a "stroke" as a sudden bodily strike). The semantic shift reflects the logic of impact—whether gentle (caress) or severe (medical event).
She suffered a stroke last year but has recovered well.
He gave the cat a gentle stroke along its back.
The artist added the final stroke to the painting.
Her swimming stroke is technically flawless.
Stroke the dough lightly with a brush before baking.