Adjacent Words

Pole definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POLE, n. [L. palus. See Pale.]
1. A long slender piece of wood, or the stem of a small tree deprived of its branches. Thus seamen use poles for setting or driving boats in shallow water; the stems of small trees are used for hoops and called hoop-poles; the stems of small, but tall straight trees, are used as poles for supporting the scaffolding in building.
2. A rod; a perch; a measure of length of five yards and a half.
[In New England, rod is generally used.]
3. An instrument for measuring.
Bare poles. A ship is under bare poles, when her sails are all furled.
POLE, n. [L. polus; Gr. to turn.]
1. In astronomy, one of the extremities of the axis on which the sphere revolves. These two points are called the poles of the world.
2. In spherics, a point equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle of the sphere; or it is a point 90 deg. distant from the plane of a circle, and in a line passing perpendicularly through the center, called the axis. Thus the zenith and nadir are the poles of the horizon.
3. In geography, the extremity of the earth's axis, or one of the points on the surface of our globe through which the axis passes.
4. The star which is vertical to the pole of the earth; the pole-star.
Poles of the ecliptic, are two points on the surface of the sphere, 23 deg. 30' distant from the poles of the world.
Magnetic poles, two points in a lodestone, corresponding to the poles of the world; the one pointing to the north, the other to the south.
POLE, n. [from Poland.] A native of Poland.
POLE, v.t. To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans.
1. To bear or convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn.
2. To impel by poles, as a boat; to push forward by the use of poles.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
2: a native or inhabitant of Poland
3: one of two divergent or mutually exclusive opinions; "they are at opposite poles"; "they are poles apart"
4: a linear measure of 16.5 feet [syn: perch, rod, pole]
5: a square rod of land [syn: perch, rod, pole]
6: one of two points of intersection of the Earth's axis and the celestial sphere [syn: pole, celestial pole]
7: one of two antipodal points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the Earth's surface
8: a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves [syn: terminal, pole]
9: a long fiberglass sports implement used for pole vaulting
10: one of the two ends of a magnet where the magnetism seems to be concentrated [syn: pole, magnetic pole] v
1: propel with a pole; "pole barges on the river"; "We went punting in Cambridge" [syn: punt, pole]
2: support on poles; "pole climbing plants like beans"
3: deoxidize molten metals by stirring them with a wooden pole

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: German, of Slavic origin; akin to Polish Polak Pole, Polska Poland, pole field Date: 1535 1. a native or inhabitant of Poland 2. a person of Polish descent II. biographical name Reginald 1500-1558 English cardinal; archbishop of Canterbury (1556-58)

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English p?l stake, pole, from Latin palus stake; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact Date: before 12th century 1. a. a long slender usually cylindrical object (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 (16 1/2 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 II. verb (poled; poling) Date: 1573 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 III. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin polus, from Greek polos pivot, pole; akin to Greek pelesthai to become, Sanskrit carati he moves, wanders — more at wheel Date: 14th century 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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a native or national of Poland. 2 a person of Polish descent. Etymology: G f. Pol. Polanie, lit. field-dwellers f. pole field

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a long slender rounded piece of wood or metal, esp. with the end placed in the ground as a support etc. 2 a wooden shaft fitted to the front of a vehicle and attached to the yokes or collars of the draught animals. 3 = PERCH(1). --v.tr. 1 provide with poles. 2 (usu. foll. by off) push off (a punt etc.) with a pole. Phrases and idioms: pole position the most favourable position at the start of a motor race (orig. next to the inside boundary-fence). pole-vault (or -jump) n. the athletic sport of vaulting over a high bar with the aid of a long flexible pole held in the hands and giving extra spring. --v.intr. take part in this sport. pole-vaulter a person who pole-vaults. under bare poles Naut. with no sail set. up the pole sl. 1 crazy, eccentric. 2 in difficulty. Etymology: OE pal ult. f. L palus stake 2. n. 1 (in full north pole, south pole) a each of the two points in the celestial sphere about which the stars appear to revolve. b each of the extremities of the axis of rotation of the earth or another body. c see magnetic pole. Usage: The spelling is North Pole and South Pole when used as geographical designations. 2 each of the two opposite points on the surface of a magnet at which magnetic forces are strongest. 3 each of two terminals (positive and negative) of an electric cell or battery etc. 4 each of two opposed principles or ideas. 5 Geom. each of two points in which the axis of a circle cuts the surface of a sphere. 6 a fixed point to which others are referred. 7 Biol. an extremity of the main axis of any spherical or oval organ. Phrases and idioms: be poles apart differ greatly, esp. in nature or opinion. Derivatives: poleward adj. polewards adj. & adv. Etymology: ME f. L polus f. Gk polos pivot, axis, sky

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rod Rod, n. [The same word as rood. See Rood.] 1. A straight and slender stick; a wand; hence, any slender bar, as of wood or metal (applied to various purposes). Specifically: (a) An instrument of punishment or correction; figuratively, chastisement. He that spareth his rod hateth his son. --Prov. xiii. 24. (b) A kind of sceptor, or badge of office; hence, figuratively, power; authority; tyranny; oppression. ``The rod, and bird of peace.'' --Shak. (c) A support for a fishing line; a fish pole. --Gay. (d) (Mach. & Structure) A member used in tension, as for sustaining a suspended weight, or in tension and compression, as for transmitting reciprocating motion, etc.; a connecting bar. (e) An instrument for measuring. 2. A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; -- called also perch, and pole. Black rod. See in the Vocabulary. Rods and cones (Anat.), the elongated cells or elements of the sensory layer of the retina, some of which are cylindrical, others somewhat conical.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pole Pole, n. [Cf. G. Pole a Pole, Polen Poland.] A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pole Pole, n. [As. p[=a]l, L. palus, akin to pangere to make fast. Cf. Pale a stake, Pact.] 1. A long, slender piece of wood; a tall, slender piece of timber; the stem of a small tree whose branches have been removed; as, specifically: (a) A carriage pole, a wooden bar extending from the front axle of a carriage between the wheel horses, by which the carriage is guided and held back. (b) A flag pole, a pole on which a flag is supported. (c) A Maypole. See Maypole. (d) A barber's pole, a pole painted in stripes, used as a sign by barbers and hairdressers. (e) A pole on which climbing beans, hops, or other vines, are trained. 2. A measuring stick; also, a measure of length equal to 5? yards, or a square measure equal to 30? square yards; a rod; a perch. --Bacon. Pole bean (Bot.), any kind of bean which is customarily trained on poles, as the scarlet runner or the Lima bean. Pole flounder (Zo["o]l.), a large deep-water flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), native of the northern coasts of Europe and America, and much esteemed as a food fish; -- called also craig flounder, and pole fluke. Pole lathe, a simple form of lathe, or a substitute for a lathe, in which the work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being fastened to the treadle, and the other to an elastic pole above. Pole mast (Naut.), a mast formed from a single piece or from a single tree. Pole of a lens (Opt.), the point where the principal axis meets the surface. Pole plate (Arch.), a horizontal timber resting on the tiebeams of a roof and receiving the ends of the rafters. It differs from the plate in not resting on the wall.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pole Pole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poled; p. pr. & vb. n. Poling.] 1. To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops. 2. To convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn. 3. To impel by a pole or poles, as a boat. 4. To stir, as molten glass, with a pole.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pole Pole, n. [L. polus, Gr. ? a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to ? to move: cf. F. p[^o]le.] 1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth's axis; as, the north pole. 2. (Spherics) A point upon the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of such circle meets the surface. Such a point is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the horizon; the pole of the ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian. 3. (Physics) One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the north pole of a needle. 4. The firmament; the sky. [Poetic] Shoots against the dusky pole. --Milton. 5. (Geom.) See Polarity, and Polar, n. Magnetic pole. See under Magnetic. Poles of the earth, or Terrestrial poles (Geog.), the two opposite points on the earth's surface through which its axis passes. Poles of the heavens, or Celestial poles, the two opposite points in the celestial sphere which coincide with the earth's axis produced, and about which the heavens appear to revolve.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(poles) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. 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. N-COUNT 2. 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. N-COUNT see also North Pole, South Pole 3. 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. N-COUNT 4. If you say that two people or things are poles apart, you mean that they have completely different beliefs, opinions, or qualities. PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(Poles) A Pole is a Polish citizen, or a person of Polish origin. N-COUNT

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pol: Nu 21:8,9 the King James Version for nes, Revised Version "standard."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Extremity (of an axis or a diameter). 2. Staff, rod, stick. 3. Rod, perch. 4. Shaft, thill. 5. Polander, native of Poland. 6. Polestar, north star, loadstar, Polaris. 7. Firmament, sky.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

He is like a rope-dancer's polo, lead at both ends; a saying of a stupid sluggish fellow.

Moby Thesaurus

China, Darkest Africa, God knows where, Greenland, Maypole, N pole, North Pole, Outer Mongolia, Pago Pago, Pillars of Hercules, S pole, Siberia, South Pole, Thule, Tierra del Fuego, Timbuktu, Ultima Thule, Yukon, acme, advance, all over, antenna tower, antipodal points, antipodes, antipoints, antipoles, apex, apogee, arbor, at odds, at opposite extremes, axis, axle, axle bar, axle shaft, axle spindle, axle-tree, baluster, balustrade, banister, bar, barbican, bare pole, base, beam, beanpole, belfry, bell tower, billet, bitter end, black and white, board, boarding, bottom dollar, boundary, bowl, brow, bunt, butt, butt end, campanile, cap, caryatid, clapboard, climax, cloud nine, colonnade, colossus, column, contraposita, contrapositives, contraries, cord, cordwood, counterpoles, crest, crown, culmen, culmination, cupola, dado, deal, derrick, die, distaff, dome, driftwood, drive, edge, end, everywhere, extreme, extreme limit, extremity, fag end, far and wide, farthest bound, fire tower, firewood, flagstaff, footstalk, forward, frontier, fulcrum, gimbal, godforsaken place, gudgeon, hardwood, heaven, heavens, height, high and low, high noon, highest pitch, highest point, hinge, hingle, hub, impel, irreconcilable, jack, jumping-off place, lantern, lath, lathing, lathwork, lighthouse, limit, log, lumber, magnetic axis, magnetic pole, mandrel, martello, martello tower, mast, maximum, meridian, minaret, monument, mountaintop, move, nave, ne plus ultra, negative pole, newel-post, nib, night and day, no place higher, noon, north pole, nowhere, oar, oarlock, obelisk, observation tower, opposite poles, opposites, outback, outer space, outpost, outskirts, paddle, pagoda, panelboard, paneling, panelwork, peak, pedal, pedestal, pedicel, peduncle, pier, pilaster, pile, piling, pillar, pin, pinnacle, pintle, pitch, pivot, plank, planking, plinth, plyboard, plywood, point, polar opposites, polarity, polarization, poles, poles apart, positive pole, post, propel, puncheon, push, pylon, pyramid, queen-post, radiant, ridge, rod, roll, row, rowlock, scape, scull, seventh heaven, shaft, shake, sheathing, sheathing board, sheeting, shingle, shove, shunt, sideboard, siding, sky, skyscraper, slab, slat, socle, softwood, south pole, spar, spindle, spire, splat, staff, stalk, stanchion, stand, standard, standpipe, stave, steeple, steering oar, stem, stick, stick of wood, stovewood, stub, stump, stupa, subbase, summit, surbase, sweep, sweep along, swivel, tag, tag end, tail, tail end, television mast, the Great Divide, the South Seas, the boondocks, the moon, the sticks, the tullies, three-by-four, thrust, timber, timbering, timberwork, tip, tip-top, tongue, top, tope, totem pole, tour, tower, treadle, tree, troll, trundle, trunk, trunnion, turret, two-by-four, upmost, upper extremity, uppermost, upright, utmost, vertex, very top, water tower, weatherboard, windmill tower, wood, worlds apart, zenith