[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/stroke/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / stroke # stroke verb (stroke, strokes, stroked, stroking); noun (a stroke, strokes) «stroke» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To stroke an animal or person is to move your hand gently over it, usually again and again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m1) 2. A stroke is one movement of a pen or brush, or of an arm or oar in swimming or rowing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m2) 3. A stroke is a hit, as in tennis, golf or cricket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m3) 4. A stroke is a serious illness when blood cannot get to part of the brain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m4) 5. A stroke of a clock is one ring: «on the stroke of twelve». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m5) 6. «A stroke of luck» is a sudden piece of good luck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#m6) ### In the lessons In pet lessons, stroke animals gently in the direction their fur grows and only if they are calm and the owner says yes. In swimming, strokes are front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. In health, a stroke is an emergency: signs are a drooping face, weak arm and slurred speech — call emergency services (FAST). In writing, letters are made of strokes. ### Examples - Stroke the cat gently. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x1) - The dog loves it when you stroke its ears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x2) - Breaststroke is my favourite swimming stroke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x3) - Grandad had a stroke and is in hospital. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x4) - Draw the letter with one stroke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x5) - On the stroke of midnight the coach turned into a pumpkin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x6) - Finding my lost ring was a stroke of luck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x7) - Ask before you stroke someone's dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x8) - He swam a few more strokes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/#x9) ### Note Regular verb: stroked. Do not confuse «stroke» (gentle touch) with «strike» (hit hard). In maths diagrams, strokes like «\|\|\|\|» are tally marks; five strokes in a gate make 5. ## In Jewish tradition In the Prophets and Writings a stroke is a blow, often a punishment, as when God visits sin with "strokes" or the psalmist asks God to remove His stroke. In Proverbs a fool's talk calls for strokes. **Interpretation.** In Mordell's theory about Sefer Yetzirah, the first Hebrew letters and numbers began as simple strokes added together, such as one, two, three or four strokes for the numbers. In the Psalms the tradition reads God's strokes as a father's discipline meant to bring His children back. ### Examples - Two, three, or four strokes are so combined as to indicate the (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x1) - To avoid writing too many strokes, the Chinese made one stroke to represent five units. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x2) - They are only a combination of two, three, and four strokes, to indicate the respective numbers. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x3) - A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. (Writings PRO.18.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x4) - Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with strokes. (Writings PSA.89.33, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x5) - Remove Thy stroke from off me; I am consumed by the blow of Thy hand. (Writings PSA.39.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/#x6) ### Note Regular verb: stroked. Do not confuse «stroke» (gentle touch) with «strike» (hit hard). In maths diagrams, strokes like «\|\|\|\|» are tally marks; five strokes in a gate make 5. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «stroke» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stroke/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«stroke» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stroke.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «stroke» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stroke/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«stroke» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/stroke.html) on Mova free.