verb
poke
pohk
verb
1
To prod or jab something with a finger or object.
"She poked him in the ribs to get his attention."
"Don't poke the fire with your bare hands."
2
To thrust something out or forward, such as one's head or tongue.
"He poked his head around the door to see if anyone was there."
noun
1
A prod, jab, or thrust.
"She gave him a friendly poke in the shoulder."
2
A Hawaiian dish of cubed raw fish mixed with seasonings.
"We grabbed poke bowls for lunch on the beach."
How to Use Poke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo jab or prod something, or a light jabbing motion — also, informally, a Hawaiian raw-fish dish.
Common pairings
poke fun at
poke around
poke someone in the ribs
Word Forms
poked past tense, pokes plural, pokes plural, Pokes plural, pokes singular
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Etymology
From Middle English poken, likely borrowed from a Middle Dutch or Low German word of imitative origin.