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strive /stra I v/ (strives , striving ) The past tense is either strove or strived , and the past participle is either striven or strived . VERB If you strive to do something or strive for something, you make a great effort to do it or get it. □ [V to-inf] He strives hard to keep himself very fit. □ [V + for ] The region must now strive for economic development as well as peace. [Also V ]

strobe /stroʊ b/ (strobes ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A strobe or a strobe light is a very bright light which flashes on and off very quickly.

strode /stroʊ d/ Strode is the past tense and past participle of stride .

stroke ◆◇◇ /stroʊ k/ (strokes , stroking , stroked )

1 VERB If you stroke someone or something, you move your hand slowly and gently over them. □ [V n] Carla, curled up on the sofa, was stroking her cat. □ [V n] She walked forward and embraced him and stroked his tousled white hair.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone has a stroke , a blood vessel in their brain bursts or becomes blocked, which may kill them or make them unable to move one side of their body. □  He had a minor stroke in 1987, which left him partly paralysed.

3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The strokes of a pen or brush are the movements or marks that you make with it when you are writing or painting. □  Fill in gaps by using short, upward strokes of the pencil.

4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] When you are swimming or rowing, your strokes are the repeated movements that you make with your arms or the oars. □  I turned and swam a few strokes further out to sea.

5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A swimming stroke is a particular style or method of swimming. □  She spent hours practising the breast stroke.

6 N‑COUNT The strokes of a clock are the sounds that indicate each hour. □  On the stroke of 12, fireworks suddenly exploded into the night.

7 N‑COUNT In sports such as tennis, baseball, cricket, and golf, a stroke is the action of hitting the ball. □  Compton was sending the ball here, there, and everywhere with each stroke.

8 N‑SING A stroke of luck or good fortune is something lucky that happens. □ [+ of ] It didn't rain, which turned out to be a stroke of luck.

9 N‑SING A stroke of genius or inspiration is a very good idea that someone suddenly has. □ [+ of ] At the time, his appointment seemed a stroke of genius.

10 PHRASE If something happens at a stroke or in one stroke , it happens suddenly and completely because of one single action. □  The disease wiped out 40 million rabbits at a stroke. □  How can Britain reduce its prison population in one stroke?

11 PHRASE If someone does not do a stroke of work, they are very lazy and do no work at all. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □  I never did a stroke of work at college. SYNONYMS stroke VERB 1

rub:He rubbed his arms and stiff legs.

pet:I petted and smoothed her hair.

pat:Don't you worry,' she said patting me on the knee.

stroll /stroʊ l/ (strolls , strolling , strolled ) VERB If you stroll somewhere, you walk there in a slow, relaxed way. □ [V prep/adv] A young couple stroll past me hand in hand. ● N‑COUNT Stroll is also a noun. □  After dinner, I took a stroll round the city.

stroll|er /stroʊ lə ^r / (strollers ) N‑COUNT A stroller is a small chair on wheels, in which a baby or small child can sit and be wheeled around. [AM ] in BRIT, use pushchair

strong ◆◆◆ /strɒ ŋ, [AM ] strɔː ŋ/ (stronger /strɒ ŋgə ^r , [AM ] strɔː ŋgər/, strongest /strɒ ŋg I st, [AM ] strɔː ŋg I st/)