Strokes: meaning, definitions and examples

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strokes

 

[ strəʊks ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

medical

Sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain, caused by a clot or a ruptured blood vessel, leading to the death of brain cells. Strokes can result in paralysis, speech impairment, or other serious complications.

Synonyms

brain attack, cerebrovascular accident

Examples of usage

  • A stroke can be a life-threatening medical emergency.
  • She suffered a stroke last year and has been undergoing rehabilitation since then.
Context #2 | Noun

sports

A single movement of a rower's or oarsman's arms and legs that propels the boat forward.

Synonyms

oar stroke, row

Examples of usage

  • She had a powerful stroke that helped the team win the race.
  • His rowing technique improved after focusing on the catch phase of the stroke.
Context #3 | Verb

general

To move one's hand or an object back and forth in a particular direction.

Synonyms

caress, pet, rub

Examples of usage

  • She stroked the cat gently.
  • He stroked his beard while thinking.

Translations

Translations of the word "strokes" in other languages:

🇵🇹 traços

🇮🇳 स्ट्रोक्स

🇩🇪 Striche

🇮🇩 goresan

🇺🇦 штрихи

🇵🇱 pociągnięcia

🇯🇵 ストローク

🇫🇷 traits

🇪🇸 trazos

🇹🇷 çizgiler

🇰🇷 

🇸🇦 ضربات

🇨🇿 tahy

🇸🇰 ťahy

🇨🇳 笔画

🇸🇮 poteze

🇮🇸 strik

🇰🇿 сызықтар

🇬🇪 კრიტები

🇦🇿 çəkmələr

🇲🇽 trazos

Etymology

The word 'strokes' has its origin in the Old English word 'strica', which meant a line made by drawing a pen or brush. Over time, the word evolved to encompass various meanings related to movements or actions. In the medical context, 'strokes' came to be associated with the sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain in the 17th century. In sports, the term 'strokes' was used to describe the movement of rowers in the 19th century. The verb form of 'strokes' emerged later, referring to the action of moving a hand or object back and forth.

See also: stroke, stroking.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,946 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.