poke

¹

[ pohk ]

verb (used with object)

, poked, pok·ing.

1. to prod or push, especially with something narrow or pointed, such as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.:

   He was asleep until she poked him in the ribs.

2. to make (a hole, one's way, etc.) by or as by prodding or pushing:

   The branch poked a hole in my sweater.

   It was a difficult trek, as he had to poke his way slowly through the underbrush.

3. to thrust or push:

   She poked her head out of the window.

4. to force, drive, or stir by or as by pushing or thrusting:

   He poked the fire up.

5. to thrust obtrusively:

   The prosecutor kept poking his finger at the defendant.

verb (used without object)

, poked, pok·ing.

1. to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.:

   Angle the needle and poke hard, and it should get through the fabric.

2. to extend or project (often followed by out ):

   His handkerchief is poking out of his back pocket.

3. to thrust oneself obtrusively:

   It's dangerous to poke into something that's none of your business.

4. to search curiously; pry (often followed by around or about ):

   When working airport security, you often have to poke around in other people's stuff.

5. to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often followed by along ):

   We spent a while poking along at 5 mph while the traffic jam cleared.

noun

1. a thrust or push:

   She gave the cake a poke with a toothpick to see if it was done.

2. Informal. a slow or dawdling person; slowpoke.

poke

²

[ pohk ]

noun

1. Chiefly Midland U.S. and Scot.. a bag or sack, especially a small one.
2. a wallet or purse.
3. Archaic. a pocket.

poke

³

[ pohk ]

noun

1. a projecting brim at the front of a bonnet, framing the face.
2. Also called poke bonnet. a bonnet or hat with such a brim.

poke

⁴

[ pohk ]

noun

1. pokeweed.

poke

⁵

[ poh-key ]

noun

1. a Hawaiian salad of cubed raw tuna mixed with diced sweet onion and scallion and marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil.

poke

¹

/ pəʊk /

noun

1. Also calledpoke bonnet a woman's bonnet with a brim that projects at the front, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries
2. the brim itself

poke

²

/ pəʊk /

noun

1. dialect.
   a pocket or bag
2. a pig in a poke
   See pig

poke

³

/ pəʊk /

noun

1. short for pokeweed

poke

⁴

/ pəʊk /

verb

1. tr to jab or prod, as with the elbow, the finger, a stick, etc
2. tr to make (a hole, opening, etc) by or as by poking
3. whenintr, often foll by at to thrust (at)
4. informal.
   tr to hit with the fist; punch
5. usually foll byin, out, out of, through, etc to protrude or cause to protrude

   don't poke your arm out of the window

6. tr to stir (a fire, pot, etc) by poking
7. intr to meddle or intrude
8. intr; often foll by about or around to search or pry
9. introften foll byalong to loiter, potter, dawdle, etc
10. slang.
    tr (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with
11. poke fun at
    to mock or ridicule
12. poke one's nose into
    See nose

noun

1. a jab or prod
2. short for slowpoke
3. informal.
   a blow with one's fist; punch
4. slang.
   sexual intercourse

Other Words From

• pok·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poke¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German poken “to thrust, stick with a knife”; poach ²

Origin of poke²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Middle Dutch, whence also Old North French poque, French poche “bag, pocket”; poach ¹, pocket, pouch

Origin of poke³

First recorded in 1760–70; apparently special use of poke ¹

Origin of poke⁴

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps shortening of obsolete pocan “pokeweed,” perhaps variant of puccoon (pokeberries and puccoon roots were both sources of red dye)

Origin of poke⁵

First recorded in 1975–80; from Hawaian: literally, “to slice crosswise, section, a section”

Word History and Origins

Origin of poke¹

C18: from poke ¹(in the sense: to thrust out, project)

Origin of poke²

C13: from Old Northern French poque, of Germanic origin; related to Old English pocca bag, Old Norse poki pouch , Middle Dutch poke bag; compare poach ²

Origin of poke³

C14: from Low German and Middle Dutch poken to thrust, prod, strike

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. poke fun at, to ridicule or mock, especially covertly or slyly:

   In her novel, she pokes fun at her ex-husband.

2. poke one's nose into, Informal. to meddle in; pry into:

   We felt as if half the people in town were poking their noses into our lives.

More idioms and phrases containing poke

• make fun of (poke fun at)
• pig in a poke
• take a poke at

Example Sentences

“I just know that he got poked in it,” Redick said.

From Los Angeles Times

The comedian’s satire pokes fun at conservatives and progressives in era of petty outrage and performative politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Kimmel has long been critical of Trump, using his late-night spot to not just poke fun at the president-elect but to also share how the former reality TV star’s policies have impacted his personal life.

From Los Angeles Times

The “Vampire” singer later poked fun at herself, posting a dramatic edit of the tumble on TikTok.

From Los Angeles Times

However, the many rules and unchecked emotions that linger around multiple sex partners begin to poke holes in their happily ever after.

From Salon

Related Words

• jab