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 statuette stands 13½ inches tall, weighs 8½ pounds, and features five spokes on its film reel, symbolizing the Academy's five original branches: actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

These are tiny flexible sacs of pigments that are connected to 15 to 25 radial muscle fibers, resembling the spokes of a wheel attached to the hub. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Think of your life as a wheel with multiple spokes: work, relationships, personal growth, community impact and health. —Jennifer Kamara, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Persona is structured like a wheel, with a central concept as the hub, and individual spokes branching out to explore distinct ideas. —Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 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