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.
  1. to fondle.
  2. 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

Definition for coax (2 of 2)

coax 2
[ koh-aks, koh-aks ]
/ koʊˈæks, ˈkoʊ æks /

noun Electricity.

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, adverb

Word Origin for coax

C16: verb formed from obsolete noun cokes fool, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for coax (2 of 2)

coax 2
/ (ˈkəʊæks) /

noun

short for coaxial cable