Poke means to push something or someone with your finger or a pointed object, usually with a quick, sharp motion. When you poke your friend to get their attention during class, you're giving them a quick jab with your finger. You might poke a campfire with a stick to adjust the logs, or poke holes in dough before baking it.

The word can also mean to stick out or protrude. If your shirt tail is poking out from under your sweater, part of it is visible where it shouldn't be. A turtle's head might poke out from its shell when it feels safe.

When someone pokes around in a drawer or closet, they're searching through it casually, moving things aside to see what's there. You might poke around in the garage looking for your baseball glove. This kind of poking suggests a leisurely, curious search rather than an urgent hunt.

A poke can also be a noun: the action itself. “Give it a poke and see if it moves.”

People sometimes describe someone as poky or pokey when they move frustratingly slowly, like a poky little brother who takes forever to tie his shoes when everyone's waiting to leave.