poke

A sharp object that pushes against something pokes. Or, to poke someone is to get a person’s attention, usually by pushing a finger or a thing against the body.

• Bill poked his finger into his friend’s back.
• Valerie got poked by a branch as she walked through the woods.
• Poke your finger into the water to see if it’s warm.
• Someone poked a finger into the cake before it was frosted.
• Stop poking me!
• Children are told to be careful around BB guns for fear of poking out an eye.
• The sun is suddenly beginning to poke through the clouds.

Sometimes a person who pokes, is looking for information or something of value.

• The police were seen poking around our neighbor’s backyard because they were looking for something.
• Reporters began poking into the politician’s personal life when he announced his run for office.
• You shouldn’t poke your nose into other people’s business.
• A homeless man poked through the trash because he was looking for something to eat.

This word is used with the word "fun" when one person laughs at or makes light of another person.

• The boy started to cry as his classmates poked fun at the way he talked.
• It’s not nice to poke fun at other people.
• Poking fun at a person with a disability is in bad taste.

Facebook uses this word when someone wants to get your attention. In this case, it’s used as a verb and as a noun:

• Someone just poked me on Facebook. (verb)
• I got three pokes last week. (noun)

 A nurse pokes you in the arm with a needle when you get a shot.

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June 16, 2015