STROKING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stroking mean? 

• STROKING (noun)
  The noun STROKING has 1 sense:

1. a light touch with the hands

  Familiarity information: STROKING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STROKING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light touch with the hands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

stroke; stroking

Hypernyms ("stroking" is a kind of...):

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stroking"):

caress (a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it))

Derivation:

stroke (touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions)

 Context examples 

“Oh dear, no!” said Traddles, stroking his chin.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have good reason to believe, that he took me for a young one of his own species, by his often stroking my face very gently with his other paw.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Stroking or brushing hairy skin is normally perceived as pleasant.

(“Sixth sense” may be more than just a feeling, NIH)

The scientists applied various stimuli to the hairy skin of mice cheeks, including gentle mechanical stimuli (air puff, stroking, and brushing), high-threshold mechanical stimuli (hair pulling and skin pinching), and temperature stimulation.

(Study uncovers specialized mouse neurons that play a unique role in pain, National Institutes of Health)

Laurie longed to say something tender and comfortable, but no fitting words came to him, so he stood silent, gently stroking her bent head as her mother used to do.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I am surprised, sir, boomed Challenger, stroking his majestic beard, that any man of science should commit himself to so ignoble a sentiment.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She stood fearlessly in front of him, still stroking her bird; but twice she threw a swift questioning glance over her shoulder, as one who is in search of aid.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And so, under pretence of softening the previous outrage, of stroking and soothing me into placidity, you stick a sly penknife under my ear!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“Perhaps it's his sorrow,” said Peggotty, stroking my hair.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"It will be an immense care for Jo," said Meg, stroking the head of her one all-absorbing son.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)