stroke
Stroke (noun) means a sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death. Example: “He suffered a stroke in his early sixties but made a strong recovery.”
How to use stroke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA medical emergency involving the brain's blood supply, or a single sweeping movement, or a lucky break.
A "stroke of luck" refers to good fortune, unrelated to the medical meaning — context makes it clear which is meant.
Word forms
stroked past tense, stroked past tense, strokes plural, stroke plural, stroked plural, strokes plural, strokes singular, strokes singular, stroke singular, stroked singular, strokest singular, strokedst singular, stroketh singular
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Can you complete this real example?
He suffered a _____ in his early sixties but made a strong recovery.
Etymology
From Old English strac, related to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to rub, stroke, or strike" — the same root that gives "strike."
Related words
Rhymes for stroke
See all rhymes for stroke →Frequently asked questions
What does “stroke” mean?
The word “stroke” means a sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death. In plain terms, a medical emergency involving the brain's blood supply, or a single sweeping movement, or a lucky break.
How do you pronounce “stroke”?
“Stroke” is pronounced strohk (/stɹoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “stroke” in a sentence?
Here is “stroke” used in a sentence: “He suffered a stroke in his early sixties but made a strong recovery.”
What part of speech is “stroke”?
Depending on how it is used, “stroke” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stroke” come from?
The word “stroke” comes from Old English. From Old English strac, related to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to rub, stroke, or strike" — the same root that gives "strike.".
Is “stroke” a common word?
“Stroke” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “stroke” have?
“Stroke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death.
What is the difference between a stroke and a heart attack?
A stroke is a sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death. A heart attack, by contrast, affects blood flow to the heart, so a stroke concerns the brain while a heart attack concerns the heart.
How can stroke mean both a medical event and a brush mark?
Stroke has separate noun senses. One is the medical event of a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain, and another is a single movement of a tool, brush, oar, or limb, or the mark it leaves. Context makes clear which is meant.
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