poke
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poke (pōk)
transitive verb poked, poking 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
poke fun at
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
☆ poke (pōk)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Object
- hole: Why did God poke a hole in Whales head?
Modifies a noun
- tincture: I use poke root tincture to kick my immune system into high gear.
Modifying Another Word
- gently: Drop pill into cat's mouth and poke gently.
Noun used with modifier
- toe: Instead they hesitated and allowed substitute Williams to sneak in and toe poke past a bewildered Beresford.
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.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Billy, in one of his nice new sashes, Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes; Now, although the room grows chilly, I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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MLA Style
"poke." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/poke>
APA Style
poke. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/poke

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