# pole

/ˈpoʊɫ/ (US) · /pˈəʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pole
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a long stick

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The flag was flying from a tall metal pole in front of the school.
- The utility company sent a crew to replace the wooden telephone pole that had been snapped by the gale-force winds.

### 2. Earth's ends

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.
- Expeditions to the South Pole require months of preparation to survive the extreme temperatures and isolation of the Antarctic interior.

### 3. magnet/battery ends

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The positive pole of the battery is marked with a plus sign.
- In physics class, we learned that the opposite poles of two magnets will pull toward each other.

### 4. opposites

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

one of two completely different ideas or opinions.

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

- The two politicians are at opposite poles when it comes to taxes.
- Their artistic styles represent the two poles of modern design: one is strictly functional, while the other is purely decorative.

### 5. a person from Poland

noun · CEFR B1

a person who comes from Poland.

For teachers: a native or inhabitant of Poland, or a person of Polish descent.

- My neighbor is a Pole who moved here from Warsaw five years ago.
- The local community center hosted an event celebrating the contributions of famous Poles to the field of classical music.

### 6. penis

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a penis.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the penis.

- The comedian made a crude joke about his pole.
- The script was edited for television to remove several vulgar references to the male pole.

## Examples

- The flag hangs from a tall silver pole.
- The electrician used a long fiberglass pole to reach the wires at the top of the street lamp.
- The explorers struggled to plant their markers in the frozen ground, eventually securing a sturdy pole to signal their arrival at the geographic center of the plateau.

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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.