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¹pole

noun \ˈpōl\

Definition of POLE

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

: a varying unit of length; especially : one equal to a rod (16¹⁄₂ feet or about 5 meters)

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

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

Origin of POLE

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with POLE

bole, boll, bowl, coal, cole, Cole, dhole, dole, droll, foal, goal, hole, knoll, kohl, Kohl, mole, ole, poll, prole, role, roll, scroll, Seoul, shoal, skoal, sol, sole, soul, stole, stroll, thole, tole, toll, troll, vole, whole

²pole

verb

: to move (a boat) by using a pole to push against the bottom of a river, lake, etc.

poledpol·ing

Full Definition of POLE

transitive verb

: to act upon with a pole

: to impel or push with a pole

intransitive verb

: to propel a boat with a pole

: to use ski poles to gain speed

See pole defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of POLE

1573

³pole

noun

Definition of POLE

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

a : either of two related opposites

b : a point of guidance or attraction

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

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

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

— poles apart

: diametrically opposed

Origin of POLE

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Cartography Terms

Robinson projection, benchmark, plat, projection, topography

Pole

noun \ˈpōl\

Definition of POLE

: a native or inhabitant of Poland

: a person of Polish descent

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See Pole defined for kids

Origin of POLE

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

First Known Use: 1535

Pole

biographical name \ˈpōl, ˈpül\

Definition of POLE

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

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POLE Defined for Kids

¹pole

noun \ˈpōl\

Definition of POLE for Kids

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

²pole

noun

Definition of POLE for Kids

: either end of the imaginary line on which the earth or another planet turns

: either of the two ends of a magnet

Pole

noun \ˈpōl\

Definition of POLE for Kids

: a person born or living in Poland

Medical Dictionary

pole

noun \ˈpōl\

Medical Definition of POLE

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

: 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