English
Category:English heteronyms

Homophones
Cokes
cokes

Etymology 1
originally (1586) in the slang phrase to make a coax of, from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes "fool, simpleton", itself of obscure origin, perhaps related to cock (male bird, pert boy). The modern spelling is from 1706.

Pronunciation
(UK): IPA|/k��ks/, SAMPA|/k@Uks/
(US): AHD|k�ks, IPA|/ko�ks/, SAMPA|/koUks/
audio|en-us-coax-verb.ogg|Audio (US), verb

Verb
en-verb|coaxes|coaxing|coaxed

1. (obsolete) to fondle, kid, pet, tease

#To wheedle, persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.
#:He coaxed the horse gently into the trailer.
#To manipulate carefully into a particular situation or position.
#:They coaxed the rope through the pipe.

Synonyms
(persuade gradually): cajole, persuade, wheedle
(manipulate carefully into position): ease

Translations
trans-top|persuade gradually
Finnish: taivutella, suostutella, vikitellä, maanitella
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|manipulate carefully into position
trans-mid
trans-bottom

Etymology 2
Shortened from coaxial

Pronunciation
(UK): IPA|/�k��æks/, SAMPA|/"k@U{ks/
(US): AHD|k�ʹ�ks, IPA|/ko�æks/, SAMPA|/koU{ks/
audio|en-us-coax-noun.ogg|Audio (US), noun

Noun
wikipedia|coaxial cable
en-noun|-

#Short form of coaxial cable

Translations

trans-top|coaxial cable
trans-mid
trans-bottom

References
EtymOnLine? ¹

io:coax
hu:coax
pl:coax
ru:coax
fi:coax
te:coax
vi:coax
zh:coax

• 2007-11-28 18:50 - 16@r - splitting pronunciation in the two different etymologies

Full Revision History