poke

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

poke, n. 

 A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (Phytolacca decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; -- called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine.  [1913 Webster]

poke, n. [AS. poca, poha, pohha; akin to Icel. poki, OD. poke, and perh. to E. pock; cf. also Gael. poca, and OF. poque. Cf. Pock, Pocket, Pouch.].

•  A bag; a sack; a pocket.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "They wallowed as pigs in a poke."  [1913 Webster]
•  A long, wide sleeve; -- called also poke sleeve.  [1913 Webster]

To boy a pig a poke (that is, in a bag), to buy a thing without knowledge or examination of it. Camden.

poke, v. t. [Cf. LG. poken to prick, pierce, thrust, pok a dagger, knife, D. pook, G. pocken to beat, also Ir. poc a blow, Gael. puc to push.].

•  To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire.  [1913 Webster]

  "He poked John, and said “Sleepest thou ?”"  [1913 Webster]
•  To thrust with the horns; to gore.  [1913 Webster]
•  To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.  [1913 Webster]

To poke fun, to excite fun; to joke; to jest. [Colloq.] -- To poke fun at, to make a butt of; to ridicule. [Colloq.]

poke, v. i. 

 To search; to feel one's way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to poke about.  [1913 Webster]
"A man must have poked into Latin and Greek."  [1913 Webster]

poke, n. 

•  The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs.  Ld. Lytton.  [1913 Webster]
•  A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person.  Bartlett.  [1913 Webster]
•  A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward.  [1913 Webster]

Poke bonnet, a bonnet with a straight, projecting front.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

poke, v. & n.
--v.
1 (foll. by in, up, down, etc.) a tr. thrust or push with the hand, point of a stick, etc. b intr. be thrust forward.
2 intr. (foll. by at etc.) make thrusts with a stick etc.
3 tr. thrust the end of a finger etc. against.
4 tr. (foll. by in) produce (a hole etc. in a thing) by poking.
5 tr. thrust forward, esp. obtrusively.
6 tr. stir (a fire) with a poker.
7 intr. a (often foll. by about, around) move or act desultorily; potter. b (foll. by about, into) pry; search casually.
8 tr. coarse sl. have sexual intercourse with.
9 tr. (foll. by up) colloq. confine (esp. oneself) in a poky place.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of poking.
2 a thrust or nudge.
3 a device fastened on cattle etc. to prevent them breaking through fences.
4 a a projecting brim or front of a woman's bonnet or hat. b (in full poke-bonnet) a bonnet having this.

Idiom

poke fun at ridicule, tease. poke one's nose into colloq. pry or intrude into (esp. a person's affairs).

poke, n. dial. a bag or sack.

Idiom

buy a pig in a poke see PIG.

Etymology

ME f. ONF poke, poque = OF poche: cf. POUCH

THESAURUS

poke

Roman candle, aid to navigation, alarm, amber light, amble, arouse, assault, awaken, bag, balefire, balloon, bang, bash, bat, beacon, beacon fire, bear, bear upon, bearing, beat the bushes, beat the drum, beating, beetle, bell, bell buoy, belt, biff, billfold, bladder, blinker, blockhead, blow, blue peter, bonk, boost, box, buck, buffet, bull, bulldoze, bump, bump against, bunt, buoy, burrow, busybody, butt, butt against, butt in, caution light, chaff, chop, chump, clap, claudicate, clip, clobber, clout, clump, coldcock, come in contact, crack, cram, crawl, creep, crowd, cuff, cut, cut and thrust, dally, dash, dawdle, deal, deal a blow, deck, delve, diddle, dig, dillydally, dimwit, dint, dip, dogtrot, dolt, doodle, dope, drag, drag along, drag out, drive, drub, drubbing, drumming, dumbbell, elbow, exchange colors, excite, explore, feel, feel of, feint, fetch, fetch a blow, finger, flag, flag down, flail at, flail away at, flare, flash, flick, flog, fob, fog bell, fog signal, fog whistle, foghorn, forage, force, frisk, fusillade, galvanize, give a signal, give the nod, glance, go dead slow, go light, go slow, go through, goad, gong buoy, green light, hail, hail and speak, half-mast, handbag, handle, head, heliograph, high sign, hit, hit a clip, hit at, hobble, hoist a banner, hunt, hurtle, hustle, idiot, idle, ignoramus, inch, inch along, interfere, international alphabet flag, international numeral pennant, intrude, investigate, jab, jam, jeer at, jog, jog-trot, joggle, jolt, jostle, jut, kick, kid, knock, knock cold, knock down, knock out, lag, lash, lash out at, laze, leer, let drive at, let fly at, let have it, lick, limp, linger, loiter, lollygag, look around, look round, look through, lunge at, make a sign, make fun of, manipulate, marker beacon, meddle, mock, money belt, money clip, moron, mosey, mouse, needle, nod, nose, nose around, nudge, overhang, palm, palpate, parachute flare, paste, paw, pelt, piddle, pile drive, pilot flag, plunk, ply, pocket, pocketbook, poke along, poke around, poke at, poke fun at, police whistle, porte-monnaie, pouch, pound, pout, press, pressure, prick, probe, procrastinate, prod, project, protrude, provoke, pry, punch, purse, purse strings, push, put off, quarantine flag, quicken, radio beacon, raise a cry, ram, ram down, rap, rattle, red flag, red light, research, rib, ridicule, rocket, root, rouse, run, run against, sac, sack, sailing aid, salute, saunter, search, search through, semaphore, semaphore flag, semaphore telegraph, send up, shake, shoulder, shove, shuffle along, sign, signal, signal beacon, signal bell, signal fire, signal flag, signal gong, signal gun, signal lamp, signal light, signal mast, signal post, signal rocket, signal shot, signal siren, signal tower, signalize, slam, slog, slug, smack, smash, smell around, smite, snap, snook, snoop, soak, sock, sound an alarm, sound the trumpet, spank, spar buoy, speak, spur, stab, stagger along, stand out, stick, stick out, stimulate, sting, stir, stop light, stress, strike, strike at, strike out at, stroke, stroll, swat, swing, swing at, swing on, swipe, tamp, tamper, tap, tarry, tattoo, taunt, tease, the nod, the wink, thrust, thrust at, thumb, thump, thwack, toddle, toddle along, totter along, touch, traffic light, traffic signal, trail, traipse, twiddle, twit, unfurl a flag, waddle, walk, wallet, wallop, watch fire, wave, wave a flag, wave the hand, whack, wham, whip, white flag, whop, wield, wigwag, wigwag flag, wink, worm, worm along, yellow flag, yerk

ROGET THESAURUS

poke

Inactivity

VB be inactive, do nothing, move slowly, let the grass grow under one's feet, take one's time, dawdle, drawl, droil, lag, hang back, slouch, loll, lollop, lounge, poke, loaf, loiter, go to sleep over, sleep at one's post, ne battre que d'une aile, take it easy, take things as they come, lead an easy life, vegetate, swim with the stream, eat the bread of idleness, loll in the lap of luxury, loll in the lap of indolence, waste time, consume time, kill time, lose time, burn daylight, waste the precious hours, idle away time, trifle away time, fritter away time, fool away time, spend time in, take time in, peddle, piddle, potter, pudder, dabble, faddle fribble, fiddle-faddle, dally, dilly-dally, sleep, slumber, be asleep, hibernate, oversleep, sleep like a top, sleep like a log, sleep like a dormouse, sleep soundly, heavily, doze, drowze, snooze, nap, take a nap, dream, snore one's best, settle to sleep, go to sleep, go off to sleep, doze off, drop off, fall asleep, drop asleep, close the eyes, seal up the eyes, seal up eyelids, weigh down the eyelids, get sleep, nod, yawn, go to bed, turn, get some z's, stack z's, languish, expend itself, flag, hang fire, relax, render idle, sluggardize, mitigate.

Receptacle

N receptacle, inclosure, recipient, receiver, reservatory, compartment, cell, cellule, follicle, hole, corner, niche, recess, nook, crypt, stall, pigeonhole, cove, oriel, cave, capsule, vesicle, cyst, pod, calyx, cancelli, utricle, bladder, pericarp, udder, stomach, paunch, venter, ventricle, crop, craw, maw, gizzard, breadbasket, mouth, pocket, pouch, fob, sheath, scabbard, socket, bag, sac, sack, saccule, wallet, cardcase, scrip, poke, knit, knapsack, haversack, sachel, satchel, reticule, budget, net, ditty bag, ditty box, housewife, hussif, saddlebags, portfolio, quiver, chest, box, coffer, caddy, case, casket, pyx, pix, caisson, desk, bureau, reliquary, trunk, portmanteau, band-box, valise, grip, grip sack, skippet, vasculum, boot, imperial, vache, cage, manger, rack, vessel, vase, bushel, barrel, canister, jar, pottle, basket, pannier, buck-basket, hopper, maund, creel, cran, crate, cradle, bassinet, wisket, whisket, jardiniere, corbeille, hamper, dosser, dorser, tray, hod, scuttle, utensil, brazier, cuspidor, spittoon, cistern, vat, caldron, barrel, cask, drum, puncheon, keg, rundlet, tun, butt, cag, firkin, kilderkin, carboy, amphora, bottle, jar, decanter, ewer, cruse, caraffe, crock, kit, canteen, flagon, demijohn, flask, flasket, stoup, noggin, vial, phial, cruet, caster, urn, epergne, salver, patella, tazza, patera, pig gin, big gin, tyg, nipperkin, pocket pistol, tub, bucket, pail, skeel, pot, tankard, jug, pitcher, mug, pipkin, galipot, gallipot, matrass, receiver, retort, alembic, bolthead, capsule, can, kettle, bowl, basin, jorum, punch bowl, cup, goblet, chalice, tumbler, glass, rummer, horn, saucepan, skillet, posnet, tureen, beaker, flask, Erlenmeyer flask, Florence flask, round-bottom flask, graduated cylinder, test tube, culture tube, pipette, Pasteur pipette, disposable pipette, syringe, vial, carboy, vacuum flask, Petri dish, microtiter tray, centrifuge tube, bail, beaker, billy, canakin, catch basin, catch drain, chatti, lota, mussuk, schooner, spider, terrine, toby, urceus, plate, platter, dish, trencher, calabash, porringer, potager, saucer, pan, crucible, glassware, tableware, vitrics, compote, gravy boat, creamer, sugar bowl, butter dish, mug, pitcher, punch bowl, chafing dish, shovel, trowel, spoon, spatula, ladle, dipper, tablespoon, watch glass, thimble, closet, commode, cupboard, cellaret, chiffonniere, locker, bin, bunker, buffet, press, clothespress, safe, sideboard, drawer, chest of drawers, chest on chest, highboy, lowboy, till, scrutoire, secretary, secretaire, davenport, bookcase, cabinet, canterbury, escritoire, etagere, vargueno, vitrine, chamber, apartment, room, cabin, office, court, hall, atrium, suite of rooms, apartment, flat, story, saloon, salon, parlor, by-room, cubicle, presence chamber, sitting room, best room, keeping room, drawing room, reception room, state room, gallery, cabinet, closet, pew, box, boudoir, adytum, sanctum, bedroom, dormitory, refectory, dining room, salle-a-manger, nursery, schoolroom, library, study, studio, billiard room, smoking room, den, stateroom, tablinum, tenement, bath room, bathroom, toilet, lavatory, powder room, john, jakes, necessary, loo, men's room, ladies' room, rest room, (uncleanness), 653 attic, loft, garret, cockloft, clerestory, cellar, vault, hold, cockpit, cubbyhole, cook house, entre-sol, mezzanine floor, ground floor, rez-de-chaussee, basement, kitchen, pantry, bawarchi-khana, scullery, offices, storeroom, lumber room, dairy, laundry, coach house, garage, hangar, outhouse, penthouse, lean-to, portico, porch, stoop, stope, veranda, patio, lanai, terrace, deck, lobby, court, courtyard, hall, vestibule, corridor, passage, breezeway, ante room, ante chamber, lounge, piazza, veranda, conservatory, greenhouse, bower, arbor, summerhouse, alcove, grotto, hermitage, lodging, bed, carriage, capsular, saccular, sacculated, recipient, ventricular, cystic, vascular, vesicular, cellular, camerated, locular, multilocular, polygastric, marsupial, siliquose, siliquous.

Slowness

N slowness, languor, drawl, creeping, lentor, retardation, slackening, delay, claudication, jog trot, dog trot, mincing steps, slow march, slow time, slow goer, slow coach, slow back, lingerer, loiterer, sluggard, tortoise, snail, poke, dawdle, slow, slack, tardy, dilatory, gentle, easy, leisurely, deliberate, gradual, insensible, imperceptible, glacial, languid, sluggish, slow paced, tardigrade, snail-like, creeping, reptatorial, slowly, leisurely, piano, adagio, largo, larghetto, at half speed, under easy sail, at a foots pace, at a snail's pace, at a funeral pace, in slow time, with mincing steps, with clipped wings, haud passibus aequis, gradually, gradatim, by degrees, by slow degrees, by inches, by little and little, step by step, one step at a time, inch by inch, bit by bit, little by little, seriatim, consecutively, dum Roma deliberat Saguntum perit, at a glacial pace.