# coke

/ˈkoʊk/ (US) · /kˈəʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coke
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. soft drink

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a sweet, dark brown soda; often used for Coca-Cola or any similar drink.

For teachers: a carbonated, cola-flavored soft drink; frequently used as a genericized trademark for Coca-Cola.

- Would you like a glass of coke with your burger?
- The restaurant serves various beverages, but most customers simply order a coke to accompany their meal.

Usage: Often capitalized as 'Coke' when referring specifically to the brand.

### 2. illegal drug

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a short name for cocaine, a powerful and illegal drug.

For teachers: a common slang term for cocaine, a potent stimulant drug.

- The police arrested the man for carrying a small bag of coke.
- The documentary explored the devastating impact that the trade of coke has on local communities.

Teaching tip: This is a very common slang term in media and crime fiction; learners should be aware of the context to avoid confusion with the soft drink.

### 3. industrial fuel

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a grey, hard fuel made from coal, used mainly in making steel.

For teachers: a solid carbonaceous residue derived from the destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal.

- The factory uses coke to heat the furnace for making iron.
- The metallurgical process requires high-quality coke to ensure the efficient reduction of iron ore in the blast furnace.

### 4. to process coal

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to turn coal into the hard fuel called coke.

For teachers: to convert coal into coke through the process of carbonization.

- The plant was designed to coke large quantities of coal every day.
- Engineers monitored the temperature closely to ensure the coal would coke properly without excessive impurities.

## Examples

- I would like a cold Coke with my lunch.
- The waiter asked if a Pepsi was acceptable when the customer ordered a Coke.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.