Upstroke

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈʌpˌstɹoʊk/

Definitions

1. A movement directed upward, particularly in activities such as music and art, signifies an upward stroke that can occur in various contexts
2. It represents a swift or deliberate raising motion found in different practices like painting or playing an instrument
3. A motion characterized by an ascending trajectory that occurs in multiple settings, including artistry and musical performance

Etymology: "Upstroke" is a plain compound: "up" joined to "stroke," so it describes the upward half of a movement, the opposite of a downstroke. The "stroke" part traces back to Old English "strācian," meaning to stroke or pass a hand over something, and it gradually picked up the sense of a single sweeping motion, as with a pen, brush, oar, or piston. The pairing works because "stroke" already implied a complete movement with a direction, and "up" simply specifies which way it travels. Writers use it for the rising line of a letter, the lift of a paintbrush, the return of a rowing oar, or the raised beat of a drummer's wrist. In music it names the rising bow or the unaccented beat in a conducting pattern, so the word depends on context to say which part of the motion is meant.

Synonyms: upward stroke

Antonyms: downstroke