spoke

1 of 3

ˈspōk 

past tense and archaic past participle of speak

spoke

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: any of the small radiating bars inserted in the hub of a wheel to support the rim

b

: something resembling the spoke of a wheel

2

: any of the projecting handles of a boat's steering wheel

spoke

3 of 3

verb

spoked; spoking

transitive verb

: to furnish with spokes

Examples of spoke in a Sentence

Noun

The stick got caught in the wheel's spokes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The living room, with exposures on either side, highlights the home’s pinwheel layout, in which rooms radiate out from the center like spokes on a wheel. —David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2025

Part of that low weight comes thanks to a carbon fiber fork, rims, spokes and crankset, along with a titanium seatpost. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 7 Jan. 2025

Friday, Monument Circle and all of its spokes will be closed to vehicles, according to Downtown Indy's weekly traffic alert. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024

Take a moment to examine each area of your life: Which spokes need reinforcing? —Jennifer Kamara, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English spāca; akin to Old High German speihha spoke, Middle Dutch spike spike

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spoke

• hub-and-spoke

Kids Definition

spoke

1 of 2

ˈspōk 

past and archaic past participle of speak

spoke

2 of 2 noun

1

: one of the small bars extending from the hub of a wheel to support the rim

2

: something resembling the spoke of a wheel