noun
Common
spoke
spohk
Spoke (noun) means one of the thin rods that run from the hub of a wheel out to its rim. Example: “A stone got caught between the spokes of his bicycle wheel.”
noun
1
One of the thin rods that run from the hub of a wheel out to its rim.
"A stone got caught between the spokes of his bicycle wheel."
"Several spokes on the old cart wheel had snapped."
"The mechanic tightened each spoke until the wheel ran perfectly straight."
verb
1
Past tense of "speak" — talked or said something.
"She spoke calmly even though she was furious."
"He spoke to the crowd for almost an hour."
"Yesterday I spoke to my neighbour about the noise from her garden."
How to use spoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a wheel's connecting rod, or the past tense of "speak."
Common mistake
Don't confuse the wheel-part noun with the verb form — context makes it obvious, but they're unrelated in meaning despite looking identical.
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Word forms
- Plural
- spokes
- Third person singular
- spokes
- Past tense
- spoked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A stone got caught between the _____ of his bicycle wheel.
Etymology
From Old English spāca, describing the rods of a wheel — the same root gave us "spike."
Related words
Rhymes for spoke
See all rhymes for spoke →Frequently asked questions
What does “spoke” mean?
The word “spoke” means one of the thin rods that run from the hub of a wheel out to its rim. In plain terms, either a wheel's connecting rod, or the past tense of "speak.".
How do you pronounce “spoke”?
“Spoke” is pronounced spohk (/spoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “spoke” in a sentence?
Here is “spoke” used in a sentence: “A stone got caught between the spokes of his bicycle wheel.”
What part of speech is “spoke”?
Depending on how it is used, “spoke” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spoke” come from?
The word “spoke” comes from Old English. From Old English spāca, describing the rods of a wheel — the same root gave us "spike.".
Is “spoke” a common word?
“Spoke” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “spoke” have?
“Spoke” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the thin rods that run from the hub of a wheel out to its rim.
What is an example of a spoke?
The thin metal wires running from the centre of a bicycle wheel out to the tyre rim are spokes. On an old wooden cart wheel they are sturdier wooden rods. In each case a spoke connects the hub at the middle to the rim at the edge, helping the wheel keep its shape and bear weight.
Is 'spoke' also the past tense of 'speak'?
Yes. "Spoke" is a homograph: as a noun it means a rod in a wheel, but it is also the past tense of the verb "speak," as in "she spoke clearly." The two meanings are unrelated and come from different roots, so context always makes clear which one is intended.
What is the difference between a spoke and the hub?
They are different parts of the same wheel. The hub is the solid centre that turns on the axle, while the spokes are the rods radiating outward from that hub to the outer rim. The hub anchors the spokes, and the spokes span the gap between hub and rim.
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