English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəʊks/
• (US) enPR: kōks, IPA^(key): /koʊks/
• Homophones: Cokes, cokes

Verb

coax ‎(third-person singular simple present coaxes, present participle coaxing, simple past and past participle coaxed)

1. (obsolete) To fondle, kid, pet, tease.
2. To wheedle, persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.
   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 6, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     She was so mad she wouldn't speak to me for quite a spell, but at last I coaxed her into going up to Miss Emmeline's room and fetching down a tintype of the missing Deacon man.

   • 12 July 2012, Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift

     On paper, Continental Drift boasts a jaw-dropping voice cast, including but not limited to Jennifer Lopez, Patrick Stewart, Wanda Sykes, Aziz Ansari, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Alan Tudyk. But in practice, the overstuffed ensemble leaves the cast no room to distinguish themselves, and directors Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier don’t seem interested in coaxing performances that might render their money stars less identifiable.

   He coaxed the horse gently into the trailer.‎

3. To carefully manipulate into a particular desired state, situation or position.
   • 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.

   They coaxed the rope through the pipe.‎

Synonyms

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

Translations

Noun

coax ‎(plural coaxes)

1. (obsolete) A simpleton; a dupe.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Beaumont and Fletcher to this entry?)

Etymology 2

Shortened from coaxial

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkəʊæks/
• (US) enPR: kōʹăks, IPA^(key): /koʊæks/

Noun

coax ‎(plural coaxes)

1. Shortened form of coaxial cable

Translations

References

• “coax” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Anagrams

• coxa

French

Pronunciation

Noun

coax m ‎(plural coax)

1. coax (coaxial cable)

Synonyms

• coaxial
• câble coaxial