poke
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to poke: pig in a poke
poke 1
(pōk)v. poked, pok·ing, pokes
v.tr.
1. To push or jab at, as with a finger or an arm; prod.
2. To make (a hole or pathway, for example) by or as if by prodding, elbowing, or jabbing: I poked my way to the front of the crowd.
3. To push; thrust: A seal poked its head out of the water.
4. To stir (a fire) by prodding the wood or coal with a poker or stick.
5. Slang To strike; punch.
v.intr.
1. To make thrusts or jabs, as with a stick or poker.
2. To pry or meddle; intrude: poking into another's business.
3. To search or look curiously in a desultory manner: poked about in the desk.
4. To proceed in a slow or lazy manner; putter: just poked along all morning.
5. To thrust forward; appear: The child's head poked from under the blankets.
n.
Idiom: 1. A push, thrust, or jab.
2. Slang A punch or blow with the fist: a poke in the jaw.
3. One who moves slowly or aimlessly; a dawdler.
poke fun at
To ridicule in a mischievous manner.
[Middle English poken, probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch.]
poke 2
(pōk)n.
1. A projecting brim at the front of a bonnet.
2. A large bonnet having a projecting brim.
[From poke.]
poke 3
(pōk)n. Chiefly Southern US
A sack; a bag.
[Middle English, probably from Old North French; see pocket.]
Word History: A pig in a poke is a colorful vernacular expression used to describe something offered in a manner that conceals its true nature or value. Naturally, a buyer cannot inspect the pig if it is covered by a poke—that is, a bag or sack. The word poke meaning "bag" is not confined to just the American South—in many parts of Scotland, poke bag is still used of a little paper bag for carrying purchases like candy. Poke first appears in English in the 1200s and probably comes from Old North French, the northern dialect of Old French. The Old North French word in turn is probably of Germanic origin and is related to words like Icelandic poki, "bag." Poke has several relatives within English. The word pocket comes from Middle English poket, meaning "pouch, small bag," which in turn comes from Anglo-Norman pokete, a diminutive of Old North French poke. Pouche, a variant form of Old North French poke, is the source of the English word pouch.
poke 4
(pōk)n.
Pokeweed.
[Short for dialectal pocan, of Virginia Algonquian origin; akin to puccoon.]
po·ke 5
(pō-kā′)n.
A Hawaiian salad or appetizer traditionally consisting of cubed raw fish, often yellowfin tuna, that is marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, and mixed with diced onions, sesame seeds, and ginger.
[Hawaiian English, from Hawaiian poke, to cut crosswise into pieces, a slice.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
poke
(pəʊk)vb
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. (when: intr, often foll by at) to thrust (at)
4. (tr) informal to hit with the fist; punch
5. (usually foll by: in, 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. (often foll by: along) to loiter, potter, dawdle, etc
10. (tr) slang (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with
11. poke fun at to mock or ridicule
12. poke one's nose into See nose18
n
13. a jab or prod
14. short for slowpoke
15. informal a blow with one's fist; punch
16. slang sexual intercourse
[C14: from Low German and Middle Dutch poken to thrust, prod, strike]
poke
(pəʊk)n
1. dialect a pocket or bag
2. a pig in a poke See pig9
[C13: from Old Northern French poque, of Germanic origin; related to Old English pocca bag, Old Norse poki pouch, Middle Dutch poke bag; compare poach2]
poke
(pəʊk)n
1. (Clothing & Fashion) Also called: poke bonnet a woman's bonnet with a brim that projects at the front, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries
2. (Clothing & Fashion) the brim itself
[C18: from poke1 (in the sense: to thrust out, project)]
poke
(pəʊk)n
(Plants) short for pokeweed
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
poke1
(poʊk)v. poked, pok•ing,
n. v.t.
1. to prod or push, esp. with something narrow or pointed.
2. to make (a hole, one's way, etc.) by or as if by prodding or pushing.
3. to thrust or push: She poked her head out of the window.
4. to force, drive, or stir by or as if by pushing or thrusting: to poke the fire up.
v.i. 5. to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.
6. to extend or project (often fol. by out).
7. to thrust oneself obtrusively.
8. to search curiously; pry (often fol. by around or about).
9. to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often fol. by along).
n. 10. a thrust or push.
11. slowpoke.
Idioms: 1. poke fun at, to ridicule or mock.
2. poke one's nose into, to meddle in; pry into.
[1300–50; Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German poken to thrust. compare poach1]
pok′a•ble, adj.
poke2
(poʊk)n.
1. Chiefly Midland U.S. a bag or sack, esp. a small one.
2. Archaic. a pocket.
[1250–1300; Middle English < Middle Dutch, whence also Old North French poque, French poche bag, pocket; compare poach2, pocket, pouch]
poke3
(poʊk)n.
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.
[1760–70; perhaps identical with poke1]
poke4
(poʊk)n.
[1590–1600; perhaps shortening of obsolete pocan pokeweed, perhaps variant of puccoon(pokeberries and puccoon roots were both sources of red dye)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Poke
a bag containing a definite amount which varied according to the commodity.Examples: poke of bran, 1875; of corn, 1648; of hops, 1883; of madder (20 cwt), 1347; of silver, 1733; of pardon, 1377; of pence, 1575; of plums, 1581; of wool, c. 1500.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
poke
Past participle: poked
Gerund: poking
Imperative |
---|
poke |
poke |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Poke
1. A sack.
2. A plant whose leaves are sometimes used for salad.
3. Also, see Cowpoke.
1001 Words and Phrases You Never Knew You Didn’t Know by W.R. Runyan Copyright © 2011 by W.R. Runyan
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | poke - tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous pokeweed - perennial of the genus Phytolacca |
2. | poke - someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind slowcoach, slowpoke, stick-in-the-mud, plodder - someone who moves slowly; "in England they call a slowpoke a slowcoach" | |
3. | poke - a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases bag - a flexible container with a single opening; "he stuffed his laundry into a large bag" doggie bag, doggy bag - a bag for food that a customer did not eat at a restaurant; the transparent pretense is that the food is taken home to feed the customer's dog grocery bag - a sack for holding customer's groceries | |
4. | poke - a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow); "he warned me with a jab with his finger"; "he made a thrusting motion with his fist" gesture - motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling | |
5. | poke - (boxing) a blow with the fist; "I gave him a clout on his nose" knockout punch, KO punch, Sunday punch, haymaker - a hard punch that renders the opponent unable to continue boxing hook - a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent jab - a quick short straight punch rabbit punch - a short chopping blow to the back of the neck sucker punch - an unexpected punch blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head" | |
Verb | 1. | poke - poke or thrust abruptly; "he jabbed his finger into her ribs" thrust - push forcefully; "He thrust his chin forward" |
2. | poke - search or inquire in a meddlesome way; "This guy is always nosing around the office" | |
3. | poke - stir by poking; "poke the embers in the fireplace" | |
4. | poke - hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument; "the salesman pounded the door knocker"; "a bible-thumping Southern Baptist" hit - deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument; "He hit her hard in the face" | |
5. | poke - make a hole by poking pierce - make a hole into; "The needle pierced her flesh" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
poke
verb
poke around or about search, fish, hunt, go through, rifle, comb, scour, grub, ferret, rummage (around), sift through, forage, scavenge, rake through, fossick (Austral. & N.Z.), root about or around He poked around in the cupboard for the bottle of whisky.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
poke
verb3. To look into or inquire about curiously, inquisitively, or in a meddlesome fashion:
Informal: nose (around).
Idiom: stick one's nose into.
5. To go or move slowly so that progress is hindered:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
šťouchnoutstrčitudělatvstrčitvystrčit
stødepufpuffestikkestød
kohentaasorkkiatökätätökkiä
bockati
bedugjakidugja
olnbogaskotpota írekastinga
つつく
찌르다
kištikišti nosį įkumštelėjimaskumštelėtikyšoti
bakstītbelziensbikstītdunkadurt
štuchanec
dregnitipomoliti
stöta
แหย่ด้วยข้อศอกหรือนิ้ว
batırarak delik açmakçık makdürt mekdürtmekdüt me
chọc
poke
1 [pəʊk]A. N
B. VT
1. (= jab with stick, finger etc) → pinchar, clavar; [+ fire] → hurgar, atizar, remover
to poke sb in the ribs → hincar el dedo a algn en las costillas
to poke sb with a stick → dar a algn un empujón con un palo
you nearly poked me in the eye with that! → ¡casi me saltas un ojo con eso!
to poke sb in the ribs → hincar el dedo a algn en las costillas
to poke sb with a stick → dar a algn un empujón con un palo
you nearly poked me in the eye with that! → ¡casi me saltas un ojo con eso!
2. (= thrust) → introducir
to poke a rag into a tube → meter un trapo en un tubo
to poke a stick into a crack → meter un palo en una grieta
to poke a stick into the ground → clavar un palo en el suelo
to poke one's head out (of a window) → sacar or asomar la cabeza (por una ventana)
see also nose A1
to poke a rag into a tube → meter un trapo en un tubo
to poke a stick into a crack → meter un palo en una grieta
to poke a stick into the ground → clavar un palo en el suelo
to poke one's head out (of a window) → sacar or asomar la cabeza (por una ventana)
see also nose A1
4. to poke fun at sb → reírse de algn
5. (US) (= punch) → pegar un puñetazo a
poke about poke around VI + ADV (in drawers, attic etc) → fisgonear, hurgar; (round shops) → curiosear (pej) → fisgar, hacer indagaciones a hurtadillas
we spent a day poking about in the shops → pasamos un día curioseando en las tiendas
and now you come poking about! → ¡y ahora te metes a husmear!
we spent a day poking about in the shops → pasamos un día curioseando en las tiendas
and now you come poking about! → ¡y ahora te metes a husmear!
poke out
A. VI + ADV (= stick out) → salir
poke
2 [pəʊk] N (esp Scot) (= bag) → saco m, bolsa fsee also pig
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
poke
[ˈpəʊk] vt
[+ fire] → tisonner
(= jab) (with finger) → pousser du doigt; (with elbow) → donner un coup de coude à
to poke sb in the ribs (with elbow) → enfoncer son coude dans les côtes à qn
to poke sb in the ribs (with elbow) → enfoncer son coude dans les côtes à qn
[+ head] to poke one's head out of the window → passer la tête par la fenêtre
to poke one's head around the door → passer la tête par la porte
She tapped on my door and poked her head in → Elle a frappé à ma porte et a passé la tête.
to poke one's head around the door → passer la tête par la porte
She tapped on my door and poked her head in → Elle a frappé à ma porte et a passé la tête.
to poke fun at sb/sth → se moquer de qn/qch
vi (= appear) → pointer
n
vt fus [+ place] → fouiner dans
poke around
vt fus
[+ place] → fouiner dans
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
poke
1poke
2n
(= jab) → Stoß m, → Schubs m (inf); to give somebody/something a poke (with stick) → jdn/etw stoßen; (with finger) → jdn/etw stupsen; I got a poke in the eye from his umbrella → er stieß mir den Regenschirm ins Auge; it’s better than a poke in the eye (with a sharp stick) (inf) → es ist besser als gar nichts
vt
(= jab) (with stick) → stoßen; (with finger) → stupsen; to poke the fire → das Feuer schüren, im Feuer stochern; he poked the ground with his stick → er stieß mit seinem Stock auf den Boden; he accidentally poked me in the eye → er hat mir aus Versehen ins Auge gestoßen
vi his elbows were poking through his sleeves → an seinen Ärmeln kamen schon die Ellenbogen durch; to poke at something (testing) → etw prüfen; (searching) → in etw (dat) → stochern; he poked at me with his finger (touching) → er stupste mich; (not touching) → er stieß mit dem Finger nach mir; the doctor poked at his ribs → der Arzt tastete seine Rippen ab; she poked at her food with a fork → sie stocherte mit einer Gabel in ihrem Essen herum; well, if you will go poking into things that don’t concern you … → na ja, wenn du deine Nase ständig in Dinge steckst, die dich nichts angehen …
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
poke
[pəʊk]2. vt
a. (jab with stick, finger) → dare un colpetto a
to poke sb with one's umbrella → dare un colpetto con l'ombrello a qn
you poked me in the eye → mi hai messo un dito nell'occhio
to poke the fire → attizzare il fuoco
to poke sb with one's umbrella → dare un colpetto con l'ombrello a qn
you poked me in the eye → mi hai messo un dito nell'occhio
to poke the fire → attizzare il fuoco
b. to poke fun at sb (mock) → prendere in giro qn
c. (Am) (fam) (punch) → dare un pugno a
poke about poke around vi + adv (fam) (in drawers, attic) → frugare, rovistare; (in shop) → curiosare
poke out
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
poke
(pəuk) verb1. to push something into; to prod. He poked a stick into the hole; He poked her in the ribs with his elbow.
2. to make (a hole) by doing this. She poked a hole in the sand with her finger.
3. to (cause to) protrude or project. She poked her head in at the window; His foot was poking out of the blankets.
noun an act of poking; a prod or nudge. He gave me a poke in the arm.
ˈpoker noun a (usually metal) rod for stirring up a fire.
ˈpoky, pokey adjective (of a room etc) small, with not enough space.
poke about/around to look or search for something among other things.
poke fun at to laugh at unkindly. The children often poked fun at him because of his stammer.
poke one's nose into to interfere with other people's business. He is always poking his nose into my affairs.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
poke
→ يَلْكُمُ šťouchnout støde stupsen μπήγω clavar tökätä donner un coup à bockati colpire つつく 찌르다 porren skubbe szturchnąć cutucar, espetar тыкать stöta แหย่ด้วยข้อศอกหรือนิ้ว dürtmek chọc 戳Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009