Main Entry: ²poke

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): poked; pok·ing

Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch poken to poke

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a (1) : prod, jab <poked him in the ribs> (2) : to urge or stir by prodding or jabbing <poked and scolded by the old folks — Upton Sinclair> (3) : to cause to prod : thrust <poked a stick at the snake> b (1) : pierce, stab (2) : to produce by or as if by piercing, stabbing, or jabbing <poke a hole> <poked holes in his heavily footnoted argument — David Stoll> c (1) : hit, punch <poked him in the nose> (2) : to deliver (a blow) with the fist (3) : to hit (a blooper) in baseball
2 a : to cause to project <poked her head out of the window> b : to make (one's way) by poking <poked his way through the ruins> c : to interpose or interject in a meddlesome manner <asked him not to poke his nose into other people's business>intransitive verb 1 a : to make a prodding, jabbing, or thrusting movement especially repeatedly b : to strike out at something
2 a : to look about or through something without system : rummage <poking around in the attic> b : meddle
3 : to move or act slowly or aimlessly <just poked around and didn't accomplish much>
4 : to become stuck out or forward : protrude

— poke fun at : ridicule, mock