noun / verb
stroke
A gentle sliding touch.
She gently strokes the cat as it rests beside her.
Etymology
The word is associated with moving a hand along a surface. This sense emphasizes a smooth, gentle pass rather than a striking blow.
More examples
- A gentle stroke along his cheek helps calm the baby.
- He strokes her hair while she reads.
- You don't need to stroke his ego to get his help.
Forms
stroke · strokes · stroked · stroking