coax
1[ kohks ]
/ koʊks /
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verb (used with object)
to attempt to influence by gentle persuasion, flattery, etc.; cajole: He coaxed her to sing, but she refused.
to obtain by coaxing: We coaxed the secret from him.
to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort: He coaxed the large chair through the door.
Obsolete.
- to fondle.
- to fool; deceive.
verb (used without object)
to use gentle persuasion.
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Question 1 of 10
Which of the following words means “to make a crackling sound; crackle”?
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Origin of coax
11580–90; v. use of cokes fool (now obsolete), perhaps variant of coxcomb
OTHER WORDS FROM coax
Other definitions for coax (2 of 2)
Origin of coax
2First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use coax in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for coax (1 of 2)
coax1
/ (kəʊks) /
verb
to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc
(tr) to obtain by persistent coaxing
(tr) to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desireshe coaxed the engine into starting
(tr) obsolete to caress
(tr) obsolete to deceive
Derived forms of coax
coaxer, nouncoaxingly, adverbWord Origin for coax
C16: verb formed from obsolete noun cokes fool, of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for coax (2 of 2)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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