coax

Originally (1586) in the slang phrase to make a coax of, from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes "fool, simpleton", itself of obscure origin, perhaps related to cock (“male bird, pert boy”). The modern spelling is from 1706.

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

• Audio (US), verb

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊks, -oʊks
• Homophones: Cokes, cokes

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

1. (obsolete) To fondle, kid, pet, tease.
2. (transitive) To wheedle or persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.
   • 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VI, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

     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. (transitive) To carefully manipulate (someone or something) 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.

   • 1908, E Young, “Chapter 2 In Eastern Venice”, in Peeps at Many Lands: Siam, London: Adam and Charles Black, page 6:

     When the occupant of one of these floating dwellings wishes to move, […] he calls to his aid a number of muscular friends and relatives, and then, with the aid of great shovel-shaped paddles, they coax the home away to its new locality.

   They coaxed the rope through the pipe.

• (to fondle): caress, grope, touch up; see also Thesaurus:fondle
• (persuade gradually): cajole, canoodle, persuade, wheedle
• (manipulate carefully into position): ease

coax (plural coaxes)

1. (obsolete) A simpleton; a dupe.
   • c. 1613, Thomas Middleton, William Rowley, “Wit at Several Weapons. A Comedy.”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     Go, you're a brainless Coax, a Toy, a Fop, I'll go no farther than your Name, Sir Gregory

Shortened from coaxial

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

• Audio (US), noun

  (file)

coax (countable and uncountable, plural coaxes)

1. Short for coaxial cable.

   Synonym: coax cable

coax (not comparable)

1. Clipping of coaxial.

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “coax”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• coxa

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.aks/

• Audio (Paris)

  (file)

coax m (plural coax)

1. coax (coaxial cable)

   Synonyms: coaxial, câble coaxial