spoke

¹ American  

[spohk] / spoʊk /

verb

1. a simple past tense of speak.

2. Nonstandard. a past participle of speak.

3. Archaic. a past participle of speak.

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spoke ² American  

[spohk] / spoʊk /

noun

1. one of the bars, rods, or rungs radiating from the hub or nave of a wheel and supporting the rim or felloe.

2. something that resembles the spoke of a wheel.

3. a handlelike projection from the rim of a wheel, as a ship's steering wheel.

4. a rung of a ladder.

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verb (used with object)

spoked, spoking

1. to fit or furnish with or as with spokes.

spoke ¹ British  

/ spəʊk /

noun

1. a radial member of a wheel, joining the hub to the rim

2. a radial projection from the rim of a wheel, as in a ship's wheel

3. a rung of a ladder

4. to thwart someone's plans

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verb

1. (tr) to equip with or as if with spokes

spoke ² British  

/ spəʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of speak

2. archaic a past participle of speak

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Other Word Forms

• spokeless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spoke

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English spāca; cognate with Dutch speek, German Speiche

Explanation

A spoke is a bar or rod that connects the center of a wheel to its rim. The purpose of spokes is to support the structure of the wheel. You can jazz up your bike by weaving ribbons between the spokes. Originally, spoke meant "a piece of a split log." When wagon wheels were made of wood, they were formed using these spokes, which were carved into matching shapes. Wheels with spokes were invented around 2000 B.C.E. or even earlier, and they revolutionized travel, making vehicles lighter and faster. Experts believe that spoke shares a root with spike.

Example Sentences

Co-defendant Deiryen Dyce, 32, of Ellesmere Road North, Sheffield, appeared in person in court charged with assisting an offender and spoke only to confirm her name and address.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

“You know me,” Ferguson said when we spoke over video call recently.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

CoreWeave’s chief financial officer spoke about the competition at a recent conference.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Hoplamazian, Hyatt’s chief executive for nearly 20 years, spoke with The Wall Street Journal about hotel affordability, its recent loyalty-program changes and whether the U.S. hospitality industry will have a lackluster World Cup this summer.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

And this is when C.C. was glad she waited and listened before she spoke because she now knew she could offer something helpful to Duane.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el