spoke

1 of 3

ˈspōk 

past tense and archaic past participle of speak

spoke

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: any of the small radiating bars inserted in the hub of a wheel to support the rim

b

: something resembling the spoke of a wheel

2

: any of the projecting handles of a boat's steering wheel

spoke

3 of 3

verb

spoked; spoking

transitive verb

: to furnish with spokes

Examples of spoke in a Sentence

Noun

The stick got caught in the wheel's spokes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Arrests for people allegedly driving 100 miles an hour or more have spokes in recent months, also sparking a push for better driver safety. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2025

And the wheels might resemble wire spokes but on closer examination, are actually forged aluminum pieces. —Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

There are classic rides with spokes and Vogues and modern machines with butterfly doors and oversized rims. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Aug. 2025

While the back wheel is filled with a solid disc, to encourage aerodynamic airflow out past the back of the bike, the front wheel is left with spokes, in case of destabilising crosswinds. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English spāca; akin to Old High German speihha spoke, Middle Dutch spike spike

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spoke

• hub-and-spoke

Rhymes for spoke

• bloke
• boeck
• broke
• choke
• cloak
• cloke
• croak
• folk
• hoke
• joke
• moke
• oak

Kids Definition

spoke

1 of 2

ˈspōk 

past and archaic past participle of speak

spoke

2 of 2 noun

1

: one of the small bars extending from the hub of a wheel to support the rim

2

: something resembling the spoke of a wheel