adj · noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈkəʊæks/
US:kōʹăks
US:/koʊæks/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
UK:/kəʊks/
US:kōks
US:/koʊks/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊks
rhymes with -oʊks
homophone: Cokes
homophone: cokes
CMU ARPABET:K OW1 K S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Clipping of coaxial.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
To wheedle or persuade (a person, organisation, animal etc.) gradually or by use of flattery to do something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
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.
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.
Across languages
Translations
81 source translations are retained for this English entry.
