poke

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /poʊk/ UK /pəʊk/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like pock /ɑ/ vs /oʊ/

Meanings

1

verb
to jab or prod with a finger or pointed object

He gave the fire a poke to revive the flames.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to jab or prod with a... jab prod nudge dig thrust stab push elbow

Word family

Derived forms pokerpoking

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

poke bonnet
a traditional bonnet tied beneath the chin, with a brim projecting around the face

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Don't buy a pig in a poke

Etymology

From Middle English poken ('to thrust, jab'), probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German poken ('to poke'), of imitative origin.

poken Middle Dutch

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# poke

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /poʊk/
**IPA (UK):** /pəʊk/

## Meanings
1. to jab or prod with a finger or pointed object

## Examples
- He gave the fire a poke to revive the flames.

## Synonyms
- jab
- prod
- nudge
- dig
- thrust
- stab
- push
- elbow

## Derived Forms
- poker
- poking

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: poken

## Etymology
From Middle English poken ('to thrust, jab'), probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German poken ('to poke'), of imitative origin.

## AI Etymology
Poke comes from Middle English poken ('to thrust, jab'), probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German poken ('to poke'), of imitative origin. The etymological trail includes Middle Dutch poken. As a verb, poke means to jab or prod with a finger or pointed object. The same family is visible in derived forms such as poker and poking. The uncertainty belongs to the older derivation, so the explanation should preserve alternatives rather than choosing one unsupported origin.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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