What Is “Stroke”?
Definition:
As a verb, stroke means to move your hand gently over something, often to show care or affection.
As a noun, it can refer to a gentle touch, a movement, or even a medical condition (e.g., a stroke in the brain).
In simple words: To stroke is to touch someone or something softly and repeatedly, like when petting a cat or comforting a person.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /stroʊk/
- Spoken: strohk
Grammatical Formation
- Verb forms:
- Base: stroke
- Past: stroked
- Present participle: stroking
- Third person singular: strokes
- Noun form: stroke (e.g., a stroke of the brush)
Synonyms
caress, pet, fondle, rub, pat, brush, glide
Antonyms
hit, slap, strike, punch, bash, ignore
Related Terms
- Touch – general act of contacting something
- Caress – soft, affectionate touch
- Pet – to stroke especially animals
- Massage – more systematic rubbing for relaxation or therapy
Common Collocations
- stroke gently
- stroke someone’s hair
- stroke the cat
- stroke of luck
- brushstroke
- a stroke of genius
Idiomatic Usage & Expressions
- A stroke of luck – an unexpected good thing
- “Winning the lottery was a stroke of luck.”
- Stroke someone’s ego – flatter someone
- “He loves it when you stroke his ego.”
- Stroke of genius – a brilliant idea
- “That move was a stroke of genius.”
Sample Sentences
- She gently stroked the baby’s head as he slept.
- He stroked the dog’s fur with care and affection.
- She felt comforted when her friend stroked her back.
- It was a stroke of bad luck that the car broke down.
- The artist made one smooth stroke across the canvas.
Does “Stroke” Have Any Relationship to Sexuality?
Sometimes, yes.
- In general usage, “stroke” refers to non-sexual, gentle touching (like petting a cat or comforting someone).
- In intimate or romantic contexts, “stroking” can imply erotic touch, especially when referring to certain body parts or in private settings.
- However, tone and context determine whether the word implies anything sexual.
Example (non-sexual):
He stroked her hand to comfort her.
Example (sexual context):
He stroked her thigh slowly, drawing closer.