Tap vs. Stroke — What's the Difference?

A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled

A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding.

A device connected to a telephone for listening secretly to someone's conversations

An act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow

An instrument for cutting a threaded hole in a material.

A mark made by drawing a pen, pencil, or paintbrush in one direction across paper or canvas

A taproom.

An act of moving one's hand across a surface with gentle pressure

A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow

Each of a series of movements in which something moves out of its position and back into it

Tap dancing

A sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis

A bugle call for lights to be put out in army quarters

Move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress

Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container)

Act as the stroke of (a boat or crew)

Exploit or draw a supply from (a resource)

Hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately

Connect a device to (a telephone) so that conversation can be listened to secretly

The act or an instance of striking, as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool; a blow or impact.

Cut a thread in (something) to accept a screw

The striking of a bell or gong.

Strike with a quick light blow or blows

The sound so produced.

Approach (a sports player) unlawfully with a view to signing them to another club while they are still under contract with their current one.

The time so indicated

Designate or select (someone) for a task or honour, especially membership of an organization or committee

A sudden action or process having a strong impact or effect

To strike gently with a light blow or blows

A sudden occurrence or result

To give a light rap with

A sudden severe attack, as of paralysis or sunstroke.

To produce with a succession of light blows

A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, diminution or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. Also called cerebral accident, cerebrovascular accident.

To select, as for membership in an organization; designate.

An inspired or effective idea or act

To repair (shoe heels or toes) by applying a thin layer of leather or a substitute material.

A single uninterrupted movement, especially when repeated or in a back-and-forth motion

To attach metal plates to (shoe toes or heels).

A keystroke.

To deliver a gentle, light blow or blows.

Any of a series of movements of a piston from one end of the limit of its motion to another.

To walk making light clicks.

A single completed movement of the limbs and body, as in swimming or rowing.

To tap-dance.

The manner or rate of executing such a movement

To furnish with a spigot or tap.

The rower who sits nearest the coxswain or the stern and sets the tempo for the other rowers.

To pierce in order to draw off liquid

The position occupied by this person.

To draw (liquid) from a vessel or container

A movement of the upper torso and arms for the purpose of striking a ball, as in golf or tennis.

(Medicine) To withdraw fluid from (a body cavity).

The manner of executing such a movement.

To make a physical connection with or open outlets from

A scoring unit in golf counted for such a movement

To wiretap (a telephone or communications channel).

A single mark made by a writing or marking implement, such as a pen.

To establish an electric connection in (a power line), as to divert current secretly.

The act of making such a mark.

To establish access to or a connection with

A printed line in a graphic character that resembles such a mark.

To take advantage of; make use of

A distinctive effect or deft touch, as in literary composition.

To cut screw threads in (a collar, socket, or other fitting).

A light caressing movement, as of the hand.

(Informal) To ask (a person) for money.

To mark with a single short line.

A gentle blow.

To draw a line through; cancel

The sound made by such a blow.

(Nautical) To set the pace for (a rowing crew).

A thin layer of leather or a substitute applied to a worn-down shoe heel or toe.

To hit or propel (a ball, for example) with a smoothly regulated swing.

A metal plate attached to the toe or heel of a shoe, as for tap-dancing.

To make or perform a stroke.

Tap dance.

(Nautical) To row at a particular rate per minute.

(Linguistics) See flap.

To rub lightly with or as if with the hand or something held in the hand; caress.

A valve and spout used to regulate delivery of a fluid at the end of a pipe.

(Informal) To behave attentively or flatteringly toward (someone), especially in order to restore confidence or gain cooperation.

A plug for a bunghole; a spigot.

An act of hitting; a blow, a hit.

Liquor drawn from a spigot.

An act of striking with a weapon; a blow.

Liquor of a particular brew, cask, or quality.

A single movement with a tool; also, an impact of a tool on an object.

(Medicine) The removal of fluid from a body cavity

An act, or the sound, of the clapper or hammer of a clock hitting a bell or other striking mechanism; hence, the time when such a strike occurs.

A tool for cutting an internal screw thread.

(ball games) An act of hitting or trying to hit a ball; also, the manner in which this is done.

A makeshift terminal in an electric circuit.

A movement similar to that of hitting.

A wiretap.

One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished.

A tapering cylindrical pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask.

A beat or throb, as of the heart or pulse.

A device used to dispense liquids.

(technology) A single movement or thrust of a part (such as a piston) of a machine that moves back and forth; also, the length of this movement.

Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor.

(figuratively)

A place where liquor is drawn for drinking.

An act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment.

(mechanics) A device used to cut an internal screw thread. (External screw threads are cut with a die.)

A damaging occurrence, especially if sudden; a blow, a calamity.

A connection made to an electrical or fluid conductor without breaking it.

An amount of work; specifically, a large amount of business or work.

An interception of communication by authority.

A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced; also, something accomplished by such an effort; an achievement, a feat.

A device used to listen in secretly on telephone calls.

A movement of a brush in painting, of a chisel in carving, of a pen, pencil, or such implement in drawing or writing, etc., in one direction; hence, a line or mark made on a surface by such an implement.

A procedure that removes fluid from a body cavity.

A distinctive expression in a written composition; a touch.

(finance) The situation where a borrowing government authority issues bonds over a period of time, usually at a fixed price, with volumes sold on a particular day dependent on market conditions.

Influence; power.

A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.

(turn-based games) A masterful or effective action.

(dance) tap dance

(medicine) The loss of brain function arising when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted.

The act of touching a touch screen.

(sciences) An individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage.

A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.

(obsolete)

(military) A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed; usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.

The effect or result of a striking; affliction or injury; a bruise or wound; soreness.

(phonetics) A consonant sound made by a single muscle contraction, such as the sound [ɾ] in the standard American English pronunciation of body.

Chiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite.

An Indian malarial fever.

(medicine) A sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal.

To furnish with taps.

(music) A bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument; also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played; hence, a melody, a tune.

To draw off liquid from a vessel.

An act of moving one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, touching it lightly; a caress.

To deplete, especially of a liquid via a tap; to tap out.

(figuratively)

To exploit.

A gesture of assurance given as encouragement; specifically (psychoanalysis) in transactional analysis: a (generally positive) reaction expressed to a person which fulfils their desires or needs.

To place a listening or recording device on a telephone or wired connection.

A flattering or friendly act, comment, etc., done or made to a person to influence them.

To intercept a communication without authority.

(transitive)

(mechanical) To cut an internal screw thread.

To draw the horizontal line across the upright part (of the letter t).

To turn or flip a card or playing piece to remind players that it has already been used that turn (by analogy to "tapping," in the sense of drawing on to the point of temporary exhaustion, the resources or abilities represented by the card).

Followed by out or through: to draw a line or lines through (text) to indicate that it is deleted; to cancel, to strike or strike out.

(informal) To cadge, borrow or beg.

Of a bell or clock: to chime or sound to indicate (the hour, the time, etc.).

To drain off fluid by paracentesis.

(rare) To mark (something) with lines or stripes; to stripe.

To advance someone for a post or job, or for membership of a club.

(ball games) To hit or kick (the ball) with a flowing or smooth motion; also, to score (a goal, a point, etc.) by doing so.

To strike lightly.

(rowing)

To touch one's finger, foot, or other body parts on a surface (usually) repeatedly.

(swimming) To strike (the water) with one's arms and legs when swimming.

To make a sharp noise.

(obsolete) To depict (something) with a paintbrush.

(graphical user interface) To operate an electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) by tapping a specific place on its (capacitive or other) touch screen.

(intransitive)

To designate for some duty or for membership, as in 'a tap on the shoulder'.

(medicine) Chiefly followed by out: to suffer loss of brain function when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted; to have a stroke (noun sense 4).

To have sexual intercourse with.

(swimming) To swim by making co-ordinated movements with the arms and legs.

(combat sports) To submit to an opponent by tapping one's hand repeatedly.

To move one's hand or an object (such as a broom or brush) along (a surface) in one direction, touching it lightly; to caress.

To force (an opponent) to submit.

To bring (something) to a certain condition by stroking (sense 1).

To put a new sole or heel on.

(figuratively)

To strike with a slight or gentle blow; to touch gently; to rap lightly; to pat; as, to tap one with the hand or a cane.

To give assurance to (someone) through encouragement.

To put a new sole or heel on; as, to tap shoes.

To influence (someone) by convincing or flattering them.

To strike a gentle blow.

(agriculture) To milk (a cow or other animal); especially, to squeeze the teat of (a cow, etc.) to extract the last bit of milk from the udder; to strap dialectal, to strip.

To pierce so as to let out, or draw off, a fluid; as, to tap a cask, a tree, a tumor, a keg of beer, etc.

(masonry) To give a finely fluted surface to (stone) by carving it with a tool.

Hence, to draw resources from (a reservoir) in any analogous way; as, to tap someone's knowledge of the Unix system; to tap the treasury.

(obsolete)

To draw, or cause to flow, by piercing.

To sharpen (a knife or other cutting instrument) by honing or rubbing it against a surface.

To form an internal screw in (anything) by means of a tool called a tap; as, to tap a nut, a pipe, or tubing.

(figuratively) To soothe (someone); also, to flatter or indulge (someone).

To connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line) secretly, for the purpose of hearing private conversations; also, to obtain or record (information) by tapping; - a technique used by law enforcement agencies investigating suspected criminals. In the United States it is illegal without a court order permitting it.

Struck.

A gentle or slight blow; a light rap; a pat.

The act of striking; a blow; a hit; a knock; esp., a violent or hostile attack made with the arm or hand, or with an instrument or weapon.

A piece of leather fastened upon the bottom of a boot or shoe in repairing or renewing the sole or heel.

The result of effect of a striking; injury or affliction; soreness.

A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, - usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo.

The striking of the clock to tell the hour.

A hole or pipe through which liquor is drawn.

A gentle, caressing touch or movement upon something; a stroking.

A plug or spile for stopping a hole pierced in a cask, or the like; a faucet.

A mark or dash in writing or printing; a line; the touch of a pen or pencil; as, an up stroke; a firm stroke.

Liquor drawn through a tap; hence, a certain kind or quality of liquor; as, a liquor of the same tap.

Hence, by extension, an addition or amandment to a written composition; a touch; as, to give some finishing strokes to an essay.

A place where liquor is drawn for drinking; a taproom; a bar.

A sudden attack of disease; especially, a fatal attack; a severe disaster; any affliction or calamity, especially a sudden one; as, a stroke of apoplexy; the stroke of death.

A tool for forming an internal screw, as in a nut, consisting of a hardened steel male screw grooved longitudinally so as to have cutting edges.

A throb or beat, as of the heart.

The sound made by a gentle blow

One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished; as, the stroke of a bird's wing in flying, or an oar in rowing, of a skater, swimmer, etc.

A faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask

A powerful or sudden effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished; also, something done or accomplished by such an effort; as, a stroke of genius; a stroke of business; a master stroke of policy.

A gentle blow

The movement, in either direction, of the piston plunger, piston rod, crosshead, etc., as of a steam engine or a pump, in which these parts have a reciprocating motion; as, the forward stroke of a piston; also, the entire distance passed through, as by a piston, in such a movement; as, the piston is at half stroke.

A small metal plate that attaches to the toe or heel of a shoe (as in tap dancing)

Power; influence.

A tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads

Appetite.

A plug for a bunghole in a cask

To strike.

The act of tapping a telephone or telegraph line to get information

To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.

A light touch or stroke

To make smooth by rubbing.

Cut a female screw thread with a tap

To give a finely fluted surface to.

Draw from or dip into to get something;

To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.

Strike lightly;

(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand;

Draw from; make good use of;

The maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam

Tap a telephone or telegraph wire to get information;

A sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain

Furnish with a tap or spout, so as to be able to draw liquid from it;

A light touch

Make light, repeated taps on a surface;

A light touch with the hands

Walk with a tapping sound

The oarsman nearest the stern of the shell who sets the pace for the rest of the crew

Dance and make rhythmic clicking sounds by means of metal plates nailed to the sole of the dance shoes;

A punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information

Draw (liquor) from a tap;

A mark made by a writing implement (as in cursive writing)

Pierce in order to draw a liquid from;

Any one of the repeated movements of the limbs and body used for locomotion in swimming or rowing

Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently;

A single complete movement

Touch lightly and with affection, with brushing motions;

Strike a ball with a smooth blow

Row at a particular rate

Treat gingerly or carefully;