coax

¹ American  

[kohks] / koʊks /

verb (used with object)

coaxes, present (3rd person singular) coaxed, past participle, past coaxing present participle

1. to influence or persuade to do something by gentle urging, smooth talk, flattery, etc..

   He tried to coax her to sing, but she refused.

2. to obtain by coaxing.

   We coaxed the secret from him.

3. to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort.

   He coaxed the large chair through the door.

4. Obsolete.

   1. to fondle.

   2. to fool; deceive.

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verb (used without object)

coaxes, present (3rd person singular) coaxed, past participle, past coaxing present participle

1. to use gentle persuasion.

coax ² American  

[koh-aks, koh-aks] / koʊˈæks, ˈkoʊ æks /

noun

Electricity.

1. coaxial cable.

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coax ¹ British  

/ kəʊks /

verb

1. to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc

2. (tr) to obtain by persistent coaxing

3. (tr) to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires

   he coaxed the engine into starting

4. obsolete (tr) to caress

5. obsolete (tr) to deceive

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coax ² British  

/ ˈkəʊæks /

noun

1. short for coaxial cable

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• coaxingly
  adverb
• coaxer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have coaxed
  perfect
• has coaxed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is coaxing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• coaxing
  participle
• coaxes
  singular 3rd person
• am coaxing
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been coaxing
  perfect progressive
• has been coaxing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are coaxing
  progressive

Past

• had coaxed
  perfect
• was coaxing
  progressive singular
• had been coaxing
  perfect progressive
• coaxed
  participle
• coaxed
  simple
• were coaxing
  progressive plural

Future

• will coax
  simple
• will have coaxed
  perfect
• will be coaxing
  progressive
• will have been coaxing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of coax¹

First recorded in 1580–90; verb use of obsolete cokes “fool,” perhaps variant of coxcomb ( def. )

Origin of coax²

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Explanation

When you coax someone, you try to convince him gently, with pleasant words and maybe a little flattery. You’ll have to be patient, as you can’t rush someone you’re trying to coax. When you coax, you have to be nice about it — you can’t threaten or force. You put on a little charm and gently urge, so that the person or thing is happy about being coaxed. You might coax the runaway elephant back into the zoo by patting her gently and talking into her ear. If you wake up with a terrible bedhead, you might coax your hair back into place with the help of a little hair gel and a comb.

Related Words

• cajole
• entice
• induce
• tease
• tempt
• wheedle