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poke¹

(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.

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.

Idiom:

poke fun at

To ridicule in a mischievous manner.

[Middle English poken, probably from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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