Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Etymology 1

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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /kəʊks/, SAMPA: /k@Uks/
• (US) enPR: kōks, IPA: /koʊks/, SAMPA: /koUks/
•  Audio (US), verb^{help, file}

Homophones

• Cokes
• cokes

Verb

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

1. (obsolete) to fondle, kid, pet, tease
2. To wheedle, persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.

   He coaxed the horse gently into the trailer.

3. To manipulate carefully into a particular situation or position.

   They coaxed the rope through the pipe.

Synonyms

• (persuade gradually): cajole, persuade, wheedle
• (manipulate carefully into position): ease

Translations

Etymology 2

Shortened from coaxial

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈkəʊæks/, SAMPA: /"k@U{ks/
• (US) enPR: kōʹăks, IPA: /koʊæks/, SAMPA: /koU{ks/
•  Audio (US), noun^{help, file}

Noun

Wikipedia has an article on:

Coaxial cable

Wikipedia

coax (uncountable)

1. Short form of coaxial cable

Translations

References

• “coax” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001 [1]

Anagrams

• Anagrams of acox
• coxa