verb
stoke
stohk
verb
1
To add fuel to a fire to keep it burning, or to feed a furnace.
"He stoked the fire before going to bed."
2
To encourage or intensify a feeling or situation.
"The rumors only stoked public anger further."
How to Use Stoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo feed a fire to keep it going, or figuratively to fuel a feeling like anger or excitement.
Common pairings
stoke the fire
stoke fears
stoke controversy
Word Forms
stoked past tense, stoked past tense, stokes plural, stokes singular, stokes singular
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He _____ the fire before going to bed.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch stoken, "to poke or thrust," related to feeding a fire.