pole
pohl
Pole (noun) means a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction. Example: “The washing line was tied to a tall wooden pole in the garden.”
noun
1
A long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.
"The washing line was tied to a tall wooden pole in the garden."
"They set up a tent using two long poles."
"The flag hung limply from its pole."
2
Either of the two points where the Earth's axis meets its surface, or a similar point on a magnet or field.
"Opposite poles of two magnets pull towards each other."
"Explorers first reached the South Pole in 1911."
"The battery has a positive and a negative pole."
3
A person from Poland.
"My neighbour is a Pole who moved here to study engineering."
"The Poles in our office cooked a wonderful traditional dinner for everyone."
"Many Poles emigrated to the UK after Poland joined the EU."
verb
1
To push a boat forward using a pole.
"He poled the little raft across the shallow pond."
"We poled slowly through the reeds, watching the ducks."
"They poled the punt gently down the river."
How to use pole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long rod-like object, the extreme points of the Earth or a magnet, or a person from Poland.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "poll" (a vote or survey), which sounds identical.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fishing pole
North Pole
flag pole
pole position
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Word forms
- Plural
- poles
- Third person singular
- poles
- Past tense
- poled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The washing line was tied to a tall wooden _____ in the garden.
Etymology
From Old English pal, from Latin palus, "stake."
Related words
Rhymes for pole
See all rhymes for pole →Frequently asked questions
What does “pole” mean?
The word “pole” means a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction. In plain terms, a long rod-like object, the extreme points of the Earth or a magnet, or a person from Poland.
How do you pronounce “pole”?
“Pole” is pronounced pohl (/poʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pole” in a sentence?
Here is “pole” used in a sentence: “They set up a tent using two long poles.”
What is the opposite of “pole”?
The opposite of “pole” — its antonyms — is zero.
What part of speech is “pole”?
Depending on how it is used, “pole” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pole” come from?
The word “pole” comes from Latin. From Old English pal, from Latin palus, "stake.".
Is “pole” a common word?
“Pole” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pole” have?
“Pole” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction.
What is the difference between the two meanings of "pole"?
One sense of "pole" is a long, slender piece of wood or metal used for support or construction, such as a flagpole. The other sense is either of the two points where the Earth's axis meets its surface, or a similar point on a magnet, such as the North Pole or a magnetic pole.
What is the difference between "pole" and "poll"?
Though they sound alike, "pole" is a long rod or an endpoint of an axis or magnet, while "poll" refers to voting or a survey of opinion. They are homophones with completely different meanings.
Why are the ends of a magnet called "poles"?
A magnet has two poles, its north and south, mirroring the way "pole" names the points where the Earth's axis meets its surface. The word marks the opposite endpoints of a magnetic or geographic field.
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