[pole] n [ME, fr. OE pal stake, pole, fr. L palus stake; akin to L pangere to fix--more at pact] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a long slender usu. cylindrical object (as a length of wood) b: a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn: tongue c: a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault
2. a: a varying unit of length; esp: one measuring 16 1/2 feet (5.03 meters) b: a unit of area equal to a square rod (25.293 square meters)
3: a tree with a breast-high diameter of from
4. to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)
4: the inside front row position on the starting line for a race
[2]pole vb poled ; pol.ing vt (1573) 1: to act upon with a pole
2: to impel or push with a pole ~ vi 1: to propel a boat with a pole
2: to use ski poles to gain speed [3]pole n [ME, fr. L polus, fr. Gk polos pivot, pole; akin to Gk pelesthai to become, Skt carati he moves, wanders--more at wheel] (14c) 1: either extremity of an axis of a sphere and esp. of the earth's axis
2. a: either of two related opposites b: a point of guidance or attraction 3 a: either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor b: one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated
4: either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiated areas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism or cell--see blastula illustration
5. a: the fixed point in a system of polar coordinates that serves as the origin b: the point of origin of two tangents to a conic section that determine a polar -- poles apart : as diametrically opposed as possible Pole n [G, of Slavic origin; akin to Pol polak Pole] (1535) 1: a native or inhabitant of Poland
2: a person of Polish descent