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
poled; poling
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
Examples of pole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The current, above-ground poles have been continually damaged by trees and other objects, leaving thousands of residents and businesses without electricity each time they are damaged, according to the complaint.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
The events occur every one to three years somewhere around the globe, but are often only visible from Earth's poles or from the middle of the ocean.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
Gordon stayed near Larson’s pit box in between Turns 1 and 2 and Larson, who started on the pole, led the entirety of Stage 1.
Gordon could sense the confidence with which Byron has been driving.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Makeshift tents constructed with large wooden poles covered in plastic sheeting are too flimsy to withstand winter weather.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Skilled gondoliers use long poles to propel us through the floodwaters, pausing at points to teach us about the flora of the region.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
In the picture, Hemsworth's son stood behind the fishing pole, which was placed on the ground in front of him and hung into the water.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
As the ice melts into the ocean, meltwater moves from the poles toward the equator, which further slows the speed of the Earth’s rotation.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 15 July 2023
But, at the end of the day, finishing first in your respective conference goes a long way for the voting party, which Denver has seemingly done pole to pole this season.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 31 Mar. 2023
Being an island at a reasonably high latitude means rockets can launch north over uninhabited ocean, entering into orbit from pole to pole around our planet.
—WIRED, 23 Sep. 2022
Columbia, then Rodinia and most recently Pangea, which formed about 335 million years ago, stretching from pole to pole along the longitudes of the mid-Atlantic.
—Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2020
His plan is to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe from east to west and pole to pole without the help of motors, sails, or solar energy.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 17 Nov. 2014
The guide will pole the skiff along on the shallow flats from a platform at the back of the boat, while the angler stands ready to cast from the front.
—Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2021
Beyond Gatun the river current was stronger, and the boatmen needed all their strength to pole the bungos upstream.
—Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 2 Oct. 2020
Noun
The Granola Gear marketplace includes everything from trekking poles and sleeping pads to climbing shoes and jackets, all gently used, inspected and ready for a new home.
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The current, above-ground poles have been continually damaged by trees and other objects, leaving thousands of residents and businesses without electricity each time they are damaged, according to the complaint.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
The events occur every one to three years somewhere around the globe, but are often only visible from Earth's poles or from the middle of the ocean.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
Gordon stayed near Larson’s pit box in between Turns 1 and 2 and Larson, who started on the pole, led the entirety of Stage 1.
Gordon could sense the confidence with which Byron has been driving.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Makeshift tents constructed with large wooden poles covered in plastic sheeting are too flimsy to withstand winter weather.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Skilled gondoliers use long poles to propel us through the floodwaters, pausing at points to teach us about the flora of the region.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
In the picture, Hemsworth's son stood behind the fishing pole, which was placed on the ground in front of him and hung into the water.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
As the ice melts into the ocean, meltwater moves from the poles toward the equator, which further slows the speed of the Earth’s rotation.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
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
But, at the end of the day, finishing first in your respective conference goes a long way for the voting party, which Denver has seemingly done pole to pole this season.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 31 Mar. 2023
Being an island at a reasonably high latitude means rockets can launch north over uninhabited ocean, entering into orbit from pole to pole around our planet.
—WIRED, 23 Sep. 2022
Columbia, then Rodinia and most recently Pangea, which formed about 335 million years ago, stretching from pole to pole along the longitudes of the mid-Atlantic.
—Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2020
His plan is to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe from east to west and pole to pole without the help of motors, sails, or solar energy.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 17 Nov. 2014
The guide will pole the skiff along on the shallow flats from a platform at the back of the boat, while the angler stands ready to cast from the front.
—Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2021
Beyond Gatun the river current was stronger, and the boatmen needed all their strength to pole the bungos upstream.
—Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 2 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pole. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pole
1 of 4 noun1
: a long slender piece of material (as wood or metal)
telephone poles
2
pole
2 of 4 verb
poled; poling
: to push or move with a pole
pole a boat
poler
noun
pole
3 of 4 noun1
: 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
: 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
noun1
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)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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