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REFERENCE

pole

n.
US //ˈpoʊɫ// UK //pˈəʊl// pole
  1. 1 a long stick (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a long, thin, rounded piece of wood, metal, or plastic used to support something.

    a long, slender, cylindrical piece of wood or metal used for structural support, suspension, or as a tool.

    Example

    The flag was flying from a tall metal pole in front of the school.

    Example

    The utility company sent a crew to replace the wooden telephone pole that had been snapped by the gale-force winds.
  2. 2 Earth's ends (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    one of the two points at the very top or bottom of the Earth.

    either of the two points on the surface of a rotating planet where its axis of rotation meets the surface.

    Example

    The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.

    Example

    Expeditions to the South Pole require months of preparation to survive the extreme temperatures and isolation of the Antarctic interior.
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  1. 3 magnet/battery ends (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    one of the two ends of a magnet or a battery where the electricity or force is strongest.

    each of the two terminal points of a magnet or an electrical battery where magnetic or electric flux is concentrated.

    Example

    The positive pole of the battery is marked with a plus sign.

    Example

    In physics class, we learned that the opposite poles of two magnets will pull toward each other.
  2. 4 opposites (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    one of two completely different ideas or opinions.

    either of two diametrically opposed principles, opinions, or social extremes.

    Example

    The two politicians are at opposite poles when it comes to taxes.

    Example

    Their artistic styles represent the two poles of modern design: one is strictly functional, while the other is purely decorative.
  3. 5 a person from Poland (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person who comes from Poland.

    a native or inhabitant of Poland, or a person of Polish descent.

    Example

    My neighbor is a Pole who moved here from Warsaw five years ago.

    Example

    The local community center hosted an event celebrating the contributions of famous Poles to the field of classical music.

  4. 6 penis (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgar

    a slang word for a penis.

    a vulgar slang term for the penis.

    Example

    The comedian made a crude joke about his pole.

    Example

    The script was edited for television to remove several vulgar references to the male pole.
    • phallus
Etymology 1

From Middle English pole, pal, from Old English pāl (“a pole, stake, post; a kind of hoe or spade”), from Proto-West Germanic pāl (“pole”), from Latin pālus (“stake, pale, prop, stay”), perhaps from Old Latin paxlos, from Proto-Italic pākslos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- (“to nail, fasten”). Doublet of peel, pale, and palus. Cognates Cognate with Scots pale, paill (“stake, pale”), North Frisian pul, pil (“stake, pale”), Saterland Frisian Pool (“pole”), West Frisian poal (“pole”), Dutch paal (“pole”), German Pfahl (“pile, stake, post, pole”), Danish pæl (“pole”), Swedish påle (“pole”), Icelandic páll (“hoe, spade, pale”), Old English fæc (“space of time, while, division, interval; lustrum”).

Etymology 2

From Middle French pole, pôle, from Latin polus, from Ancient Greek πόλος (pólos, “axis of rotation”).

Word family
Idioms4 entries

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