stroke in WordNet English dictionary

1. anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
   "winning the lottery was a happy accident"; "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"; "it was due to an accident or fortuity"
   accident  stroke  fortuity  chance event 
   
2. a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
   stroke  apoplexy  cerebrovascular accident  CVA 
   
3. the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
   throw  stroke  cam stroke 
   
4. a punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information
   solidus  slash  virgule  diagonal  stroke  separatrix 
   
5. (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
   "it took two strokes to get out of the bunker"; "a good shot requires good balance and tempo"; "he left me an almost impossible shot"
   stroke  shot 
   
6. a light touch with the hands
   stroke  stroking 
   
7. a single complete movement
   stroke 
   
8. any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing
   stroke 
   
9. a mark made on a surface by a pen, pencil, or paintbrush
   "she applied the paint in careful strokes"
   stroke 
   
10. a light touch
    stroke 
    
11. the oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew
    stroke 
    
12. (golf) the unit of scoring in golf is the act of hitting the ball with a club
    "Nicklaus won by three strokes"
    stroke 
    

1. treat gingerly or carefully
   "You have to stroke the boss"
   stroke 
   
2. strike a ball with a smooth blow
   stroke 
   
3. row at a particular rate
   stroke 
   
4. touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
   "He stroked his long beard"
   stroke