noun

stroke

Translation

stroke, blow, caress, movement

He had a stroke last year.

She won with a powerful stroke.

Give the cat a gentle stroke.

a stroke of ((sth.)) a sudden occurrence of (sth.) It was a stroke of luck.

to have a stroke to suffer a medical stroke He had a stroke last year.

Synonyms: seizure, blow, hit, caress; Antonyms: none

From Old English 'strāc' (a stroke, blow), related to the verb 'strīcan' (to strike). The medical sense is from the 1590s.

Imagine a 'stroke' of lightning 'striking' the brain, causing a medical stroke. Or think of a single 'stroke' of a paintbrush.