pole

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpōl 

1

a

: a long slender usually cylindrical object (such as a length of wood)

b

: a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn : tongue

c

: a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault

2

: a varying unit of length

especially : one equal to a rod (16¹/₂ feet or about 5 meters)

3

: a tree with a breast-high diameter of from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)

4

: the inside front row position on the starting line for a race

pole

2 of 4

verb

poled; poling

transitive verb

1

: to act upon with a pole

2

: to impel or push with a pole

intransitive verb

1

: to propel a boat with a pole

2

: to use ski poles to gain speed

pole

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: either extremity of an axis of a sphere and especially of the earth's axis

2

a

: either of two related opposites

b

: a point of guidance or attraction

3

a

: either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor

b

: one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated

4

: either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism or cell see blastula illustration

5

a

: the fixed point in a system of polar coordinates that serves as the origin

b

: the point of origin of two tangents to a conic section that determine a polar

Pole

4 of 4

noun (3)

ˈpōl 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Poland

2

: a person of Polish descent

Phrases

poles apart

: diametrically opposed

Examples of pole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Just past the quarter pole of the season, the Clippers rank eighth in halfcourt defensive rating. —Shane Young, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Another thing is just long bamboo poles [to extend to someone in trouble]. —Melody Schreiber, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024

Verb

Years of poling clients to victory in his skiff kept his schedule booked nearly every day with anglers wanting to catch one of the Keys’ cherished sportfish — bonefish, permit or tarpon. —Patrick Farrell, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2024

The Dane’s lap then put him to pole, with the Mexican driver, still searching for his first pole of the year. —Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 15 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pāl stake, pole, from Latin palus stake; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Latin polus, from Greek polos pivot, pole; akin to Greek pelesthai to become, Sanskrit carati he moves, wanders — more at wheel

Noun (3)

German, of Slavic origin; akin to Polish Polak Pole, Polska Poland, pole field

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1573, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pole

• animal pole
• celestial pole
• liberty pole
• low man on the totem pole
• magnetic pole
• north pole
• north-seeking pole
• not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
• pole bean
• pole dancing
• pole position
• pole vault
• pole vaulter
• ski pole
• south pole
• south-seeking pole
• telegraph pole
• telephone pole
• the pole vault
• totem pole
• up the pole
• utility pole
• vegetal pole
• wouldn't touch (something) with a 10-foot pole

Kids Definition

pole

1 of 4 noun

ˈpōl 

1

: a long slender piece of material (as wood or metal)

telephone poles

2

: rod sense 2a

pole

2 of 4 verb

poled; poling

: to push or move with a pole

pole a boat

poler noun

pole

3 of 4 noun

1

: either end of an axis of a globe and especially of the earth's axis

2

a

: one of the two terminals of an electric cell or battery

b

: one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetism seems to be concentrated

3

: either of two specialized areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism or cell

chromosomes moving toward the poles of a dividing cell

Pole

4 of 4 noun

ˈpōl 

: a person born or living in Poland

Etymology

Noun

Old English pāl "stake, pole"

Noun

Middle English pool "axis of the earth," from Latin polus (same meaning), from Greek polos "pivot, pole"

Medical Definition

pole

noun

ˈpōl 

1

a

: either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor

b

: one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated

2

: either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism, organ, or cell see animal pole, vegetal pole

Biographical Definition

Pole

biographical name

ˈpōl 

ˈpül

Reginald 1500–1558 English cardinal; archbishop of Canterbury (1556–58)