ENGLISH
REFERENCE

poker

n. · v.
US //ˈpoʊkɝ// UK //pˈəʊkɐ// pok·er
  1. 1 the card game (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a card game where players bet on the value of the cards they hold.

    a family of card games involving wagering and individual play whereby the winner is determined by the ranks and combinations of their cards.

    Example

    He won a lot of money playing poker with his friends on Friday night.

    Example

    Professional poker requires not only a firm grasp of mathematical probability but also the psychological acuity to read an opponent's subtle physical cues.
  2. 2 fireplace tool (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a metal rod used to move wood or coal in a fire.

    a metal implement, typically made of wrought iron, used for adjusting burning fuel in a fireplace or furnace.

    Example

    She used the iron poker to push the logs back into the center of the fire.

    Example

    The heavy brass poker leaned against the hearth, its tip blackened from years of stoking the evening fires.
    • fire iron
    • firestick
  3. 3 a knife (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang British English Dialect

    a slang word for a knife.

    a slang term for a knife or similar bladed weapon.

    Example

    The gang members were caught carrying pokers in the street.

    Example

    In certain urban dialects, the term 'poker' has emerged as a common synonym for a concealed blade used in street confrontations.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is specific to Multicultural London English (MLE) and is considered highly informal or criminal slang; avoid using it in general conversation.
  4. 4 to play the game (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to play the game of poker.

    to engage in a game of poker; used intransitively.

    Example

    They spent the whole weekend pokering in a small cabin by the lake.

    Example

    The group spent the rainy afternoon pokering for matchsticks, as nobody had brought any actual currency to the retreat.
Etymology 1

From poke + -er.

Etymology 2

American English, perhaps from first element of German Pochspiel, from German pochen, perhaps from French poque. First appeared in the 19th century.

Etymology 3

Compare Danish pokker (“the deuce, devil”), and English puck.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026