stoke

¹

[stohk]

verb (used with object)

stoked, stoking 

1. to poke, stir up, and feed (a fire).

2. to tend the fire of (a furnace, especially one used with a boiler to generate steam for an engine); supply with fuel.

verb (used without object)

stoked, stoking 

1. to shake up the coals of a fire.

2. to tend a fire or furnace.

stoke

²

[stohk]

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of kinematic viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in poises divided by the density of the fluid in grams per cubic centimeter.

stoke

/ stəʊk /

verb

1. to feed, stir, and tend (a fire, furnace, etc)

2. (tr) to tend the furnace of; act as a stoker for

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoke¹

1675–85; < Dutch stoken to feed or stock a fire; stock

Origin of stoke²

After Sir G. Stokes

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoke¹

C17: back formation from _stoker

Example Sentences

A big increase in China tariffs, meanwhile, could stoke inflation pressures and challenge the market’s assumptions on Federal Reserve rate cuts, a key plank in the market’s bullish outlook.

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It’ll endanger Americans, baselessly stoke mistrust in one of the future’s most important health technologies and accelerate the offshoring of American biotech jobs that are critical for our national security.

Read more on Salon

That is likely true, but if the AI-inspired rally has taught us anything, it is that the old rule that uncertainty stokes a selloff doesn’t seem to apply anymore.

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China needs the U.S. to drive its export engine, the largest in the world, and keep its economy from spiraling into a slowdown that would stoke civil unrest.

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The yen’s rapid decline, and the extremely low rates on Japanese government bonds, are likely to stoke what is known as the yen carry trade.

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Related Words

• feed 
• stir