Definition of 'pole'

Word Frequency

pole

(poʊl )

Word forms: plural poles

1. countable noun

A pole is a long thin piece of wood or metal, used especially for supporting things.

The truck crashed into a telegraph pole.

He reached up with a hooked pole to roll down the metal shutter.

2. countable noun

The earth's poles are the two opposite ends of its axis, its most northern and southern points.

For six months of the year, there is hardly any light at the poles.

3. See also North Pole, South Pole

4. countable noun

The two poles of a range of qualities, opinions, or beliefs are the completely opposite qualities, opinions, or beliefs at either end of the range.

The two politicians represent opposite poles of the political spectrum.

Synonyms: extremity, limit, terminus, antipode More Synonyms of pole

See poles apart

More Synonyms of pole

Word Frequency

Pole

Word forms: plural Poles

countable noun

A Pole is a person who comes from Poland.

Video: pronunciation of
pole

pole in British English 1

(pəʊl )

noun

a long slender usually round piece of wood, metal, or other material

the piece of timber on each side of which a pair of carriage horses are hitched

3. another name for rod (sense 7)

4. horse racing, mainly US and Canadian

the inside lane of a racecourse

(as modifier)

the pole position

one of a number of markers placed at intervals of one sixteenth of a mile along the side of a racecourse

5. nautical

any light spar

the part of a mast between the head and the attachment of the uppermost shrouds

6. under bare poles

7. up the pole

verb

8. (transitive)

to strike or push with a pole

9. (transitive)

to set out (an area of land or garden) with poles

to support (a crop, such as hops or beans) on poles

10. (transitive)

to deoxidize (a molten metal, esp copper) by stirring it with green wood

11.

to punt (a boat)

Word origin

Old English pāl, from Latin pālus a stake, prop; see pale2

Word Frequency

pole in British English 2

(pəʊl )

noun

either of the two antipodal points where the earth's axis of rotation meets the earth's surface

Pole in British English 1

(pəʊl )

noun

a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Poland or a speaker of Polish

Word Frequency

Pole in British English 2

(pəʊl )

noun

Reginald. 1500–58, English cardinal; last Roman Catholic archbishop of Canterbury (1556–58)

Word Frequency

Pole in American English 1

(poʊl )

noun

a person born or living in Poland

Word Frequency

Pole in American English 2

(poʊl )

Reginald1500-58; Eng. cardinal: last Rom. Catholic archbishop of Canterbury (1556-58)

Word Frequency

pole in American English 1

(poʊl )

noun

a long, slender piece of wood, metal, etc. usually rounded

a tent pole, flagpole, fishing pole

a tapering wooden shaft extending from the front axle of a wagon or carriage and attached by chains or straps to the collars of a span of horses

a unit of measure, equal to one rod in linear measure (5.029 m) or one square rod in square measure (25.29 sq m)

an assigned starting position at a racetrack, in the front row if there is more than one row and in the innermost lane

verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: poled or ˈpoling

5. US

to push along (a boat or raft) with a pole

to manipulate, impel, support, etc. with or as with a pole

Idioms:

under bare poles

Word origin

ME < OE pal < L palus, pale2

Word Frequency

pole in American English 2

(poʊl )

noun

either end of any axis, as of the earth, of the celestial sphere, of a mitotic spindle during cell division, etc.

the region around the North Pole or that around the South Pole

either of two opposed or differentiated forces, parts, or principles, such as the ends of a magnet, the terminals of a battery, motor, or dynamo, or two extremes of opinion, etc.

4. Embryology

either of the two differentiated regions in the early embryo of many animals; specif., the animal pole containing little yolk and the vegetal pole containing most of the yolk

5. Ancient Mathematics

a point or points with characteristic properties, as the point of origin of polar coordinates

Idioms:

poles apart

Word origin

ME < L polus, pole of the heavens, heavens < Gr polos, axis of the sphere, firmament < pelein, to be in motion < IE base *kwel-, to turn > wheel

Example sentences including
pole

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You need to be able to kick between the three and two furlong poles.That metal pole fitted perfectly inside the boot of his Porsche.For climbing structures, seek out rusty metal poles or sleek stainless steel.A pole has no reel and fish are drawn in by removing sections of the pole one at a time, by hand.They occupy the extreme opposite poles of modern ideology.The netting is also held taut by supporting poles which allow the stuntman to land safely.Which of the two is in pole position?You cannot see beyond the furlong pole.Make sure that you have sufficient brackets to support long poles or ones carrying heavy curtains.He chained me to the pole again and pushed the helmet over my head.