pole

A long, thin piece of wood or metal used to support things or for other practical purposes.

• Hold on to the pole.
• Two poles support the tent.
• They attached a flag to a tall pole.

Similar words: rod, post

Common phrases: tent pole, wooden pole, metal pole, flag pole

Either of the two points at the very north and very south of Earth.

• The North Pole is covered in ice.
• Their expedition reached the South Pole.
• Both poles receive little sunlight in winter.

Common phrases: North Pole, South Pole, geographic pole

One of two very different or opposite positions, opinions, or states.

• Their views lie at opposite poles.
• Complete freedom represents one pole of the debate.
• Most people's opinions fall between the two poles.

How to use it: at opposite poles (The two writers are at opposite poles politically.)

Similar words: extreme

Common phrases: opposite pole, one pole, each pole

A success for a bowler when a player who is batting is put out of the game.

• The bowler took another pole.
• She finished the innings with five poles.
• He needs one more pole to win the match.

Similar words: wicket

Common phrases: take a pole, another pole

To move something, especially a boat, by pushing with a long stick.

• He poled the boat slowly.
• We poled our raft along the river.
• She is poling through the shallow water.

How to use it: pole something across/along something (They poled the raft across the shallow river.)

Similar words: punt

Common phrases: pole a boat, pole a raft, pole along something

To identify something exactly by looking at it through a telescope.

• He poled the aircraft through his telescope.
• She poled off the number on the distant plane.
• They could not pole its registration in the fog.

How to use it: pole off something (The spotter poled off the aircraft's registration.)

Similar words: identify

Common phrases: pole off something, pole an aircraft