stroke
B2Formal in medical contexts; neutral elsewhere.
Definition
Meaning
A sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain causing loss of neurological function.
A single act of striking or hitting; a medical emergency; a single movement in swimming or rowing; a mark made by a drawing or writing instrument; a sudden, severe event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is medical. As a verb, it often means to gently move your hand over something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. In sports, 'stroke play' (golf) is more common in UK. 'Heat stroke' is universal.
Connotations
Medical context is primary and serious in both. The verb 'to stroke' is neutral/gentle.
Frequency
Equally common in medical and general contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer a stroke (intransitive)stroke a cat (transitive + object)paint with bold strokes (prepositional)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a stroke of luck”
- “a stroke of genius”
- “at a/one stroke”
- “not do a stroke of work”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'a master stroke in negotiations'.
Academic
Primary use in medical/neurological literature.
Everyday
Discussing health; 'She had a stroke.' Also, 'stroke the dog.'
Technical
Specific terms: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, stroke volume (cardiology).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He is recovering from a severe stroke.
- She swam a perfect front crawl stroke.
- The artist added the final stroke with a fine brush.
- It was a stroke of luck finding a parking space.
American English
- She was hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
- He needs to work on his backstroke.
- The letter was signed with a bold stroke of the pen.
- His idea was a real stroke of genius.
verb
British English
- He would gently stroke his beard while thinking.
- The cat purred as she stroked its fur.
American English
- She stroked the dog's head to calm it.
- He stroked the ball into the corner of the net for a goal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat likes it when I stroke its back.
- He can do many swimming strokes.
- My grandfather had a stroke last year.
- With a single stroke of the pen, she signed the contract.
- It was a real stroke of luck that the train was delayed.
- The new policy changed everything at a stroke.
- The diagnosis confirmed it was an ischemic stroke.
- The painting is characterised by its broad, confident strokes.
- The surgeon's decision proved to be a master stroke, saving the patient's life.
- The legislation was a bold stroke aimed at reforming the entire system.
- He carefully stroked the chin of the porcelain figurine, lost in thought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STROKE as a STRIKE to the brain's oxygen supply.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STROKE IS A SUDDEN BLOW/ATTACK. A SUCCESS IS A SKILFUL BLOW (master stroke).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'штрих' (shtrikh - a line, hatch). While 'штрих' can translate 'brush stroke', it does NOT mean the medical condition. The medical term is 'инсульт' (insul't).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'stroke' (medical) with 'strike' (to hit).
- Using 'heart stroke' instead of 'heart attack'.
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'He was stroked' (for medical event) instead of 'He had a stroke'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a common meaning of 'stroke'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A stroke is a problem in the brain caused by interrupted blood flow or bleeding. A heart attack is a problem in the heart caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
Yes. As a verb, it most commonly means to move your hand gently over a surface, usually in a loving or calming way (e.g., stroke a cat). It is also used in sports (e.g., stroke the ball into the net).
It is an idiom meaning 'immediately and with a single action'. Example: 'The new law solved the problem at a stroke.'
Both 'heat stroke' (two words) and 'heatstroke' (one word) are accepted, with 'heatstroke' becoming increasingly common, especially in medical contexts.