stroke noun
1 of a brush, pen, etc.
ADJ. long, short | broad, thick | narrow, thin | bold, vigorous She caught his likeness with a few bold brush strokes. | even | quick, slow | downward, upward | brush, pen, pencil
PHRASES with a stroke of the pen With a stroke of the pen our names were removed from the register.
2 in sport
ADJ. fast, slow | powerful The Romanian rowers pulled ahead with fast, powerful strokes. | backhand, forehand (in tennis, etc.)
VERB + STROKE play He played some powerful backhand strokes throughout the game.
PREP. by a, two, etc. ~ (in golf) Woods leads by two strokes.
PHRASES a/two, etc. strokes ahead/behind (in golf)
3 in swimming
ADJ. long, short He swam back with long slow strokes. | fast, slow | back (also backstroke), breast (also breaststroke)
VERB + STROKE do, swim You can't swim more than four strokes before you reach the other side.
4 sudden illness of the brain
ADJ. crippling, massive, serious | minor, slight | fatal
VERB + STROKE have, suffer She had a massive stroke and lost her speech.
STROKE + VERB leave sb … The stroke left him paralysed down his right side.
STROKE + NOUN patient, victim > Special page at ILLNESS
5 sth that happens unexpectedly
ADJ. sudden I had a sudden stroke of inspiration.
VERB + STROKE have
PREP. at a/one ~ They lost half their fortune at a stroke. | ~ of a stroke of genius
PHRASES a stroke of (good/bad) luck, a stroke of (good) fortune > Note at STROKE
stroke verb
ADV. gently, lightly, softly, tenderly | thoughtfully He stroked his beard thoughtfully. | absently She stroked the cat absently. | away She gently stroked away his tears.
You can also check other dicts: stroke (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition