poker JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈpəʊkə/ · po·ker
noun
  1. A metal rod, generally of wrought iron, for adjusting the burning logs or coals in a fire; a firestick. He lifted the poker and turned the embers to keep the fire alive.
  2. A tool resembling a soldering iron, used for making fine, detailed drawings, especially in technical illustration. The illustrator traced the circuit diagram with a delicate poker.
  3. One who pokes; a person who prods, nudges, or incites others. She was the office poker, always nudging colleagues to meet their deadlines.
  4. A gambling card game in which players bet on the value of their hands. After dinner they settled in for a night of poker.
Did you know? The card game 'poker' likely borrowed its name from the verb 'poke', reflecting the way players prod each other's confidence with bold bets.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026