poke Hear it!

poke¹ Definition

poke (pōk)

transitive verb poked, pok′·ing

    1. to push or jab with a stick, finger, etc.; prod
    2. Slang to hit with the fist
  2. to make by poking to poke a hole in a bag
  3. to stir up (a fire) by jabbing the coals with a poker
  4. to thrust (something) forward; intrude to poke one's head out a window

Etymology: ME poken < MDu or LowG

intransitive verb

  1. to make jabs with a stick, poker, etc. (at something)
  2. to intrude; meddle
  3. to pry or search: sometimes with about or around
  4. to stick out; protrude
  5. to live or move slowly or lazily; loiter; putter; dawdle: often with along

noun

    1. the act of poking; jab; thrust; nudge
    2. Slang a blow with the fist
  2. slowpoke
  3. a poke bonnet, or its projecting front brim

poke¹ Idioms

poke fun at

to ridicule or deride, esp. satirically or slyly

poke² Definition

poke (pōk)

noun

  1. Dialectal a sack or bag
  2. Archaic a pocket
  3. Slang
    1. a wallet or purse
    2. money, esp. all that one has

Etymology: OFr poke, poque < Frank *pokka < IE base *beu-, to blow up, swell > puck

poke³ Definition

☆ poke (pōk)

noun

pokeweed

Etymology: earlier pocan < AmInd (Virginian) puccoon, weed used for staining

poke Synonyms

poke

n.

jab, thrust, punch; see blow 1.

poke Synonyms

poke

v.

jab, punch, crowd; see push 1.

poke Usage Examples

Object

  • fun: Many people have poked fun at the person who tabled the motion.
  • finger: Test by poking a finger through the material to touch the soil.
  • hole: Why did God poke a hole in Whales head?
  • ball: Craig O'Connor tried to poke the ball past him allowing Carroll to tap the ball in seemingly from an offside position.
  • stick: The burrow was artificially created by poking a stick in the sand to the average depth of a male fiddler crab burrow.

Preposition: through

hole: A chunky iron pin is then poked through the two holes, locking them together.

Modifies a noun

  • tincture: I use poke root tincture to kick my immune system into high gear.
  • bonnet: At the end of the century the waistline rose and the poke bonnet evolved.
  • fun: A lot of the jokes in the film poke fun at the British.
  • root: I use poke root tincture to kick my immune system into high gear.
  • hole: The local guide pointed out poke holes and guano of Brown Kiwi, on the track!

Modifying Another Word

  • gently: Drop pill into cat's mouth and poke gently.
  • about: Much poking about in the roof of the choke has also occurred.

Noun used with modifier

toe: Instead they hesitated and allowed substitute Williams to sneak in and toe poke past a bewildered Beresford.

Followed by a transitive particle

around: Science, society, and indeed the animal kingdom have benefited from our poking animals around.

Preposition: in

eye: I will tell you what these firms are being poked in the eye for in a minute.

Preposition: with

stick: Someone really ought to give it a poke with a stick.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: With a couple of years to poke around, you may find the perfect place for you.
  • through: Some have trees poking through; all have balconies.
  • out: He looks frail, with a bony shoulder poking out of his faded Batman T-shirt.