poke¹ Definition
poke (pōk)
transitive verb poked, pok′·ing
- to push or jab with a stick, finger, etc.; prod
- Slang to hit with the fist
- to make by poking to poke a hole in a bag
- to stir up (a fire) by jabbing the coals with a poker
- to thrust (something) forward; intrude to poke one's head out a window
Etymology: ME poken < MDu or LowG
intransitive verb
- to make jabs with a stick, poker, etc. (at something)
- to intrude; meddle
- to pry or search: sometimes with about or around
- to stick out; protrude
- to live or move slowly or lazily; loiter; putter; dawdle: often with along
noun
- the act of poking; jab; thrust; nudge
- Slang a blow with the fist
- slowpoke
- 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
- Dialectal a sack or bag
- Archaic a pocket
- Slang
- a wallet or purse
- money, esp. all that one has
Etymology: OFr poke, poque < Frank *pokka < IE base *beu-, to blow up, swell > puck
poke³ Definition
☆ poke (pōk)
poke Synonyms
poke Synonyms
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
Browse dictionary entries near poke
- ‹ Poitou-Charentes
- ‹ Poitou
- ‹ Poitiers
- ‹ Poisson, Sim
- ‹ Poisson's ratio
- ‹ Poisson distribution
- ‹ poisonous
- ‹ poisoning
- ‹ poisoned
- ‹ poison sumac
- poke bonnet ›
- pokeberry ›
- poker ›
- poker face ›
- pokeroot ›
- pokeweed ›
- pokey ›
- poky ›
- pol ›
- Pol Pot ›

