spoke

¹ American  

[spohk] / spoʊk /

verb

1. a simple past tense of speak.

2. Nonstandard. a past participle of speak.

3. Archaic. a past participle of speak.

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spoke ² American  

[spohk] / spoʊk /

noun

1. one of the bars, rods, or rungs radiating from the hub or nave of a wheel and supporting the rim or felloe.

2. something that resembles the spoke of a wheel.

3. a handlelike projection from the rim of a wheel, as a ship's steering wheel.

4. a rung of a ladder.

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verb (used with object)

spoked, spoking

1. to fit or furnish with or as with spokes.

spoke ¹ British  

/ spəʊk /

noun

1. a radial member of a wheel, joining the hub to the rim

2. a radial projection from the rim of a wheel, as in a ship's wheel

3. a rung of a ladder

4. to thwart someone's plans

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verb

1. (tr) to equip with or as if with spokes

spoke ² British  

/ spəʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of speak

2. archaic a past participle of speak

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Other Word Forms

• spokeless adjective

Etymology

Origin of spoke

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English spāca; cognate with Dutch speek, German Speiche

Example Sentences

Many of those the BBC spoke to did not want to provide their real names due to concerns it could impact their future employment.

From BBC

The BBC spoke to several residents in a Johannesburg suburb, Eldorado Park, a few weeks after soldiers arrived in the area.

From BBC

I spoke with a mother and son who fled Poland; they came to the rally because they don’t want to watch their new home drift toward the system they escaped.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sir Keir spoke of a coming "storm", which may well be "fierce".

From BBC

Ponnachan - of Chariot Close in Alvaston, Derby - who was wearing glasses and dressed in a plain grey T-shirt, grey jogging bottoms and light blue footwear, spoke only to confirm his personal details.

From BBC