Stroke is strangely apt (3)
I believe the answer is:
pat
'stroke' is the definition.
(pat can mean to stroke or touch)
'strangely apt' is the wordplay.
'strangely' indicates an anagram.
'apt' is an anagram of 'PAT'.
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for pat that I've seen before include "Small butter piece" , "Some butter, maybe" , "Conveniently; light touch" , "Knob (of butter)" , "Tap lightly" .)