spoke

[ spohk ]

/ spoʊk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spoke ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

a simple past tense of speak.

Nonstandard. a past participle of speak.

Archaic. a past participle of speak.

Nearby words

spoils system, spoilsman, spoilsport, spoilt, spokane, spoke, spoke-dog, spoken, spoken for, spokeshave, spokesman

Definition for spoke (2 of 3)

spoke

[ spohk ]

/ spoʊk /

noun

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

something that resembles the spoke of a wheel.

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

a rung of a ladder.

verb (used with object), spoked, spok·ing.

to fit or furnish with or as with spokes.

Origin of spoke

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

Related forms

spoke·less, adjective

Definition for spoke (3 of 3)

speak

[ speek ]

/ spik /

verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk: He was too ill to speak.

to communicate vocally; mention: to speak to a person about various matters.

to converse: She spoke with him for an hour.

to deliver an address, discourse, etc.: to speak at a meeting.

to make a statement in written or printed words.

to communicate, signify, or disclose by any means; convey significance.

Phonetics. to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, especially through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.

(of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.

to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.

Chiefly British. (of dogs) to bark when ordered.

Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter vocally and articulately: to speak words of praise.

to express or make known with the voice: to speak the truth.

to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.

to make known, indicate, or reveal.

to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language: to speak French.

(of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.

Nautical. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal: We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

Archaic. to speak to or with.

Verb Phrases

speak for,

to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.
to express or articulate the views of; represent.
to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself: This item is already spoken for.

speak out, to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly: He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.

Origin of speak

before 900; Middle English speken, Old English specan, variant of sprecan; cognate with German sprechen (Old High German sprehhan; compare variant spehhan)

SYNONYMS FOR speak

1 Speak, converse, talk mean to make vocal sounds, usually for purposes of communication. To speak often implies conveying information and may apply to anything from an informal remark to a scholarly presentation to a formal address: to speak sharply; to speak before Congress. To converse is to exchange ideas with someone by speaking: to converse with a friend. To talk is a close synonym for to speak but usually refers to less formal situations: to talk about the weather; to talk with a friend.

12 pronounce, articulate.

13 say.

15 disclose.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR speak ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

speak·a·ble, adjectivespeak·a·ble·ness, nounspeak·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spoke

Scalise spoke briefly, adding little of substance, saying that the people back home know him best.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His peers remember him as a bright man who spoke softly and occasionally came across as a bit shy.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But many I spoke to felt that even when the police were making arrests, they were frequently focused on the wrong issues.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Like many I spoke to, Williams seemed to desire a reorientation of policing, rather than just a reduction.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The detectives located and spoke to one person whom Brinsley had asked to help him upload something.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I thought him ten years less, and he spoke with the dogmatism of youth.
The Grey Room|Eden Phillpotts
As he spoke the light disappeared, and a fresh one appeared from astern.
The Black Bar|George Manville Fenn
There was silence then for a few moments before he spoke again.
By Birth a Lady|George Manville Fenn
Mr. Hull spoke briefly of his reason for calling the meeting.
Chicago's Awful Theater Horror|Various
Mrs. Chattaway buried her elbow on the sofa-cushion, and pressed her hand to her face, half covering it, before she spoke.
Trevlyn Hold|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for spoke (1 of 3)

spoke

/ (spəʊk) /

verb

the past tense of speak

archaic, or dialect a past participle of speak

British Dictionary definitions for spoke (2 of 3)

spoke

/ (spəʊk) /

noun

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

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

a rung of a ladder

put a spoke in someone's wheel British to thwart someone's plans

verb

(tr) to equip with or as if with spokes

Word Origin for spoke

Old English spāca

British Dictionary definitions for spoke (3 of 3)

speak

/ (spiːk) /

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)

to communicate or express (something) in or as if in wordsI speak the truth

(intr) to deliver a speech, discourse, etc

(tr) to know how to talk in (a language or dialect)he does not speak German

(intr) to make a characteristic soundthe clock spoke

(intr) (of dogs, esp hounds used in hunting) to give tongue; bark

(tr) nautical to hail and converse or communicate with (another vessel) at sea

(intr) (of a musical instrument) to produce a sound

(intr foll by for) to be a representative or advocate (of)he speaks for all the members

on speaking terms on good terms; friendly

so to speak in a manner of speaking; as it were

speak one's mind to express one's opinions frankly and plainly

to speak of of a significant or worthwhile naturewe have had no support to speak of

See also speak for, speak out, speak to, speak up

Derived Forms

speakable, adjective

Word Origin for speak

Old English specan; related to Old High German spehhan, Middle High German spechten to gossip, Middle Dutch speken; see speech

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

Idioms and Phrases with spoke

speak

In addition to the idioms beginning with speak

speak down to
speak for
speak of the devil
speak one's mind
speak one's piece
speak out
speak out of turn
speak the same language
speak too soon
speak up
speak volumes

also see:

actions speak louder than words
in a manner of speaking
nothing to speak of
not to mention (speak of)
on speaking terms
so to speak
to speak of