pole

noun (1)

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\ ˈpōl

Definition of pole

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : a long slender usually cylindrical object (such as a length of wood)

b : a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn : tongue

c : a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault

2 : a varying unit of length especially : one equal to a rod (16¹/₂ feet or about 5 meters)

3 : a tree with a breast-high diameter of from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)

4 : the inside front row position on the starting line for a race

pole

verb

poled; poling

Definition of pole (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to act upon with a pole

2 : to impel or push with a pole

intransitive verb

1 : to propel a boat with a pole

2 : to use ski poles to gain speed

pole

noun (2)

Definition of pole (Entry 3 of 5)

1 : either extremity of an axis of a sphere and especially of the earth's axis

2a : either of two related opposites

b : a point of guidance or attraction

3a : either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor

b : one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated

4 : either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism or cell — see blastula illustration

5a : the fixed point in a system of polar coordinates that serves as the origin

b : the point of origin of two tangents to a conic section that determine a polar

poles apart

: diametrically opposed

Pole

noun (3)

\ ˈpōl

Definition of Pole (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : a native or inhabitant of Poland

2 : a person of Polish descent

Pole

biographical name

\ ˈpōl

, ˈpül \

Definition of Pole (Entry 5 of 5)

Reginald 1500–1558 English cardinal; archbishop of Canterbury (1556–58)

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Dictionary Entries near pole

pole and satchel charge

poleax

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Cite this Entry

“Pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pole. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for pole

pole

verb

English Language Learners Definition of pole

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to move (a boat) by using a pole to push against the bottom of a river, lake, etc.

Pole

noun

English Language Learners Definition of Pole (Entry 2 of 2)

: a Polish person

pole

noun

\ ˈpōl

Kids Definition of pole

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a long straight thin piece of material (as wood or metal)

pole

noun

Kids Definition of pole (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : either end of the imaginary line on which the earth or another planet turns

2 : either of the two ends of a magnet

Pole

noun

\ ˈpōl

Kids Definition of Pole

: a person born or living in Poland

pole

noun

\ ˈpōl

Medical Definition of pole

1a : either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor

b : one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated

2 : either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism, organ, or cell — see animal pole, vegetal pole

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