spoke

¹

[ spohk ]

verb

1. a simple past tense of speak.
2. Nonstandard. a past participle of speak.
3. Archaic. a past participle of speak.

spoke

²

[ spohk ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, spoked, spok·ing.

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

spoke

¹

/ spəʊk /

verb

1. See speak
   the past tense of speak
2. See speak
   archaic.
   a past participle of speak

spoke

²

/ 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. put a spoke in someone's wheel
   put a spoke in someone's wheel to thwart someone's plans

verb

1. tr to equip with or as if with spokes

Other Words From

• spokeless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoke¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoke¹

Old English spāca

Example Sentences

It becomes a media organization with a bunch of spokes going out as opposed to being centralized.

From Digiday

Before the pandemic most people worked in offices where the IT team oversaw a traditional hub-and-spoke model.

From Digiday

The Khenpo made mindfulness sound akin to jamming a stick into the spokes of the checklist and developing a state of okayness.

From Outside Online

The traditional hub-and-spoke model, with transit networks designed to flush people in and out of a central business district, was upended.

From MIT Technology Review

Symptoms include hops and wobbles, speed shimmying on descents, or spokes that are noticeably tighter or looser than the ones next to them.

From Outside Online

Scalise spoke briefly, adding little of substance, saying that the people back home know him best.

From The Daily Beast

His peers remember him as a bright man who spoke softly and occasionally came across as a bit shy.

From The Daily Beast

Almost everyone I spoke to said they have used JSwipe because they are specifically not just looking for a booty call.

From The Daily Beast

Last summer, I spoke with first black supermodel Beverly Johnson about this for The Root.

From The Daily Beast

The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to harm future access to those embattled communities.

From The Daily Beast

She kept her eyes fixed steadily on his, saying what followed gently, calmly, yet as though another woman spoke the words.

From Project Gutenberg

I could have sworn I heard a cry, and one of my men spoke in a tone that assured me my imagination had not been playing a trick.

From Project Gutenberg

You never cared—you were too proud to care; and when I spoke to you about my fault, you did n't even know what I meant.

From Project Gutenberg

He spoke clearly and slowly, well knowing that some among the natives would understand him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Indian turned his head, and spoke to some one behind; one after another a score of figures rose.

From Project Gutenberg