coax

1
[ kohks ]
See synonyms for: coaxcoaxedcoaxescoaxing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  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.

  1. to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort: He coaxed the large chair through the door.

  2. Obsolete.

    • to fondle.

    • to fool; deceive.

verb (used without object)
  1. to use gentle persuasion.

Origin of coax

1
First recorded in 1580–90; verb use of obsolete cokes “fool,” perhaps variant of coxcomb

Other words from coax

  • coax·er, noun

Words Nearby coax

Other definitions for coax (2 of 2)

coax2
[ koh-aks, koh-aks ]

nounElectricity.

Origin of coax

2
First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use coax in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for coax (1 of 2)

coax1

/ (kəʊks) /


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

  2. (tr) to obtain by persistent coaxing

  1. (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

  2. (tr) obsolete to caress

  3. (tr) obsolete to deceive

Origin of coax

1
C16: verb formed from obsolete noun cokes fool, of unknown origin

Derived forms of coax

  • coaxer, noun
  • coaxingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for coax (2 of 2)

coax2

/ (ˈkəʊæks) /


noun
  1. short for coaxial cable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012