coax
1
[ kohks ]
/ koʊks /
verb (used with object)
to attempt to influence by gentle persuasion, flattery, etc.; cajole: He coaxed her to sing, but she refused.
to obtain by coaxing: We coaxed the secret from him.
to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort: He coaxed the large chair through the door.
Obsolete.
- to fondle.
- to fool; deceive.
verb (used without object)
to use gentle persuasion.
Origin of coax
1
1580–90; v. use of
cokes fool (now obsolete), perhaps variant of
coxcomb
OTHER WORDS FROM coax
Words nearby coax
coattail,
coattail effect,
coattails,
coatzacoalcos,
coauthor,
coax,
coaxial,
coaxial cable,
cob,
cob coal,
cob money
Definition for coax (2 of 2)
Origin of coax
2
First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening
Example sentences from the Web for coax
British Dictionary definitions for coax (1 of 2)
coax
1
/ (kəʊks) /
verb
to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc
(tr)
to obtain by persistent coaxing
(tr)
to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires
he coaxed the engine into starting
(tr) obsolete
to caress
(tr) obsolete
to deceive
Derived forms of coax
coaxer, noun coaxingly, adverbWord Origin for coax
C16: verb formed from obsolete noun
cokes fool, of unknown origin