stoke
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to poke, stir up, and feed (a fire).
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to tend the fire of (a furnace, especially one used with a boiler to generate steam for an engine); supply with fuel.
verb (used without object)
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to shake up the coals of a fire.
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to tend a fire or furnace.
noun
verb
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to feed, stir, and tend (a fire, furnace, etc)
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(tr) to tend the furnace of; act as a stoker for
Etymology
Origin of stoke1
1675–85; < Dutch stoken to feed or stock a fire; see stock
Origin of stoke2
After Sir G. Stokes
Explanation
To stoke is to poke a fire and fuel it so that it burns higher. Stoke can also mean "incite" — a principal's impassive silence in the face of requests for more tater tots might stoke the flames of student anger. When a surfer says, "I am so stoked," it means she is excited — the fire of enthusiasm is burning hotter. It's interesting to reflect on how many words in our language have to do with the tending of fires, an activity that has become much less common in recent human history.
Vocabulary lists containing stoke
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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Words You Need to See in the Wild
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Bronx Masquerade
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He rejoined following his departure from Stoke in 2022 and has been manager for a total of 11 years over the two spells.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
The largest tech-related transaction was an $860 million investment in Stoke Space Technologies, a rocket company founded by former employees of Blue Origin and SpaceX.
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
Altman is an investor in Stoke Space through his family office, the Journal reported.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Former Stoke City footballer Graham Shaw has swapped the football pitch for a seat on the council in the Midlands.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
I race through the village of Stoke Hammond, swerving round a bus as it stops for passengers.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
