poke1

verb

• 1 [with object] jab or prod (someone or something) with one’s finger or a sharp object:he poked Benny in the ribs and pointed [no object]:they sniffed, felt, and poked at everything they bought
• (on the social networking site Facebook) attract the attention of (another member of the site) by using the ‘poke’ facility.
• prod and stir (a fire) with a poker to make it burn more fiercely: she drew the curtains then poked the fire into a blaze
• make (a hole) in something by prodding or jabbing at it: don’t forget to poke holes in the dough to allow steam to escape
• vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

• 2 [with object and adverbial of direction] thrust (something, such as one’s head) in a particular direction:I poked my head around the door to see what was going on
• [no object, with adverbial] protrude and be visible:she had wisps of grey hair poking out from under her bonnet

noun

• 1an act of poking someone or something:she gave the fire a poke
• vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.

• 2 (a poke round/around) informal a look or search around a place: his mother comes into his room sometimes and has a poke round

• 3 [mass noun] British informal power or acceleration in a car:I expect you’d prefer something with a bit more poke

• 4 (also poke bonnet) a woman’s bonnet with a projecting brim or front, popular especially in the early 19th century.