v. coaxed, coax·ing, coax·es v.tr. 1. To persuade or try to persuade by pleading or flattery; cajole. 2. To obtain by persistent persuasion: coaxed the secret out of the child. 3. Obsolete To caress; fondle. 4. To move to or adjust toward a desired end: "A far more promising approach to treating advanced melanoma is to coax the immune system to recognize melanoma cells as deadly" (Natalie Angier). v.intr. To use persuasion or inducement. [Obsolete cokes, to fool, from cokes, fool.] coaxer n. coaxing·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. Informal A coaxial cable. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.