poke

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to push something through an opening or in a certain direction.

v. to thrust or push something in a specific direction so that it emerges from an opening or surface.

“The puppy liked to poke its head through the fence to watch the cars.”

“She carefully poked her needle through the thick fabric, trying not to disturb the delicate embroidery already in place.”

B1 · Intermediate Computing Informal

v. to send a small notification to someone on a social media site to get their attention.

v. to send a digital notification to another user on a social networking platform as a casual greeting or attention-seeking gesture.

“I haven't spoken to him in years, but he poked me on Facebook yesterday.”

“The platform's 'poke' feature, once a primary method of interaction, has largely been superseded by more direct messaging tools.”

C2 · Proficiency Computing Technical · Archaic

v. to change a specific piece of information in a computer's memory.

v. to modify the value stored in a specific memory address, often used in the context of legacy programming or game hacking.

“In the old game, you could poke a memory address to get infinite lives.”

“The programmer used a POKE command to bypass the hardware's color limitations, a common technique in 8-bit software development.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a quick push with a finger or a stick.

n. a physical act of prodding or jabbing.

“She gave him a sharp poke in the ribs to make him stop snoring.”

“A gentle poke with the umbrella was enough to determine that the mysterious object in the grass was merely a discarded plastic bag.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. a Hawaiian dish made of pieces of raw fish mixed with oil and spices.

n. a traditional Hawaiian dish consisting of diced raw fish, typically tuna, marinated in sesame oil, soy sauce, and various seasonings.

“We went to a small restaurant by the beach for a fresh tuna poke bowl.”

“The chef's modern interpretation of poke included unconventional ingredients like avocado and spicy mayo, reflecting the dish's global popularity.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Dialect

n. a small bag or sack.

n. a bag or sack, surviving primarily in the idiom 'a pig in a poke'.

“The old man carried his groceries in a small paper poke.”

“Buying a used car without a mechanic's inspection is like buying a pig in a poke; you never truly know what you are getting.”

C1 · Advanced Slang · Vulgar

v. a very rude word for having sex.

v. to engage in sexual intercourse. Transitive; highly informal and potentially offensive.

“He was bragging about who he managed to poke over the weekend.”

“The film was criticized for its reliance on crude humor, including several unnecessary references to poking.”